Schattenspiel in Karṇāṭaka, Süd-Indien

The author has also drawn on the photographic reproductions of the art from the collections of Dr. H. Plong, Munich; Dr. H. Berger, Heidelberg; the couple Stache-Weiske, from Germany; Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat; Government Museum, Bangalore; and the Museum for Folkloristics, Vienna. In its five sections the author traces the origin of the puppet tradition and explains its decline, describes the two major traditions in relation to the caste of the performers, and throws light on the double role of Killekyatha-as a representative of the organization (managerial role) and as a buffoon or minor character getting involved in the action of the play. The types mentioned under the general category show the meticulousness with which this classification has been made: the body-posture, the head, the beard, the plait, men's head cover, style of wearing the sari, style of putting on the shawl, trousers, arm and hand, footwear, marks of eminence, armor and equipment, ornaments and outfit for elephants and horses. The thoroughness of the classification can be realized, for instance, in the types of heroes recognized: 1) heroes in sitting position; 2) in standing position; 3) in movement; 4) in martial movement; 5) courtly wrestlers; 6) heroes on chariots; 7) heroes on horseback in aggressive and non-aggressive posture; 8) heroes on an elephant; 9) heroes on the back of a bullock or buffalo; 10) special figures; 11) princely children.