Jangam Kathalu as Popular Culture in Medieval Andhra: A Historical Study

  • Unique Paper ID: 198986
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 11
  • PageNo: 14533-14540
  • Abstract:
  • This paper examines the nature of popular culture in medieval Andhra with special reference to Jangama Kathalu between the 12th and 14th centuries. It situates the evolution of popular cultural forms within the broader socio-political transformations marked by the decline of traditional Kshatriya dominance and the rise of non-elite groups such as the Nayakas, Reddies, and Velamas. The study highlights how cultural expressions were shaped by changing power structures, religious movements like Shaivism and Vaishnavism, and the spread of Virasaivism. It distinguishes between elite and popular culture, emphasizing the oral, non-literary traditions of marginalized communities. Jangama Kathalu emerged as a significant medium of religious propagation and social communication, later evolving into Burrakatha. These performances reflect collective experiences, beliefs, and resistance of common people. The paper argues that popular culture not only provided entertainment but also functioned as a tool of social cohesion, ideological transmission, and subtle resistance in medieval Andhra society.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{198986,
        author = {Dr.N.Mallesham},
        title = {Jangam Kathalu as Popular Culture in Medieval Andhra: A Historical Study},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {14533-14540},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=198986},
        abstract = {This paper examines the nature of popular culture in medieval Andhra with special reference to Jangama Kathalu between the 12th and 14th centuries. It situates the evolution of popular cultural forms within the broader socio-political transformations marked by the decline of traditional Kshatriya dominance and the rise of non-elite groups such as the Nayakas, Reddies, and Velamas. The study highlights how cultural expressions were shaped by changing power structures, religious movements like Shaivism and Vaishnavism, and the spread of Virasaivism. It distinguishes between elite and popular culture, emphasizing the oral, non-literary traditions of marginalized communities. Jangama Kathalu emerged as a significant medium of religious propagation and social communication, later evolving into Burrakatha. These performances reflect collective experiences, beliefs, and resistance of common people. The paper argues that popular culture not only provided entertainment but also functioned as a tool of social cohesion, ideological transmission, and subtle resistance in medieval Andhra society.},
        keywords = {Medieval Andhra -Popular Culture -Jangama Kathalu -Burrakatha -Folk Traditions -Virasaivism -Social Change Oral tradition},
        month = {April},
        }

Cite This Article

Dr.N.Mallesham, (2026). Jangam Kathalu as Popular Culture in Medieval Andhra: A Historical Study. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(11), 14533–14540.

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