Word origin of Carnatic

Word origin of Carnatic:


The south Indian classical tradition has two similar sounding names, Carnatic or Karnatak. Though Carnatic is derived from Karnatak (or Karnata), it signifies a very different geographical region during the British empire.
With the fall of Vijayanagar empire entire south India witnessed a period of anarchy. The name used for the part of Vijaynagar to the north of the Ghats was Karnata. The Muslim rulers called all of the geographical areas south of them as Karnata, which included areas north of the Ghats and south as well (Encyclopedia.org - Carnatic). The plains were then called Karnata Payanghat (lowlands) and the highlands were called Balaghat. This misapplication of the name karnata was carried a step further by the British, who called only the lower Karnata as Carnatic. Thus during the British Raj, Carnatic meant the region between Eastern Ghats and the Coromandel coast i.e. present day inland Tamilnadu rather than present day Karnataka.
When Aurangzeb conquered the area in 1672, he appointed Zulfikar Ali as the nawab of the Carnatic, with the capital at Arcot. With the weakening of the Mughal empire after the death of Aurangzeb, nawaab Saadet-allah (1710-1732) established independence. In 1801 Carnatic was transferred to the British in exchange for military protection and a portion of the revenues collected. In 1853 the nominal sovereignty was ended, by pensioning the Nawab.
Since the development of modern Carnatic music took place in the region that British called Carnatic, perhaps the British thought it appropriate to call it Carnatic Music. But historically the music started to deviate from northern tradition during Vijayanagar empire, who were based in Karnata(ka). Purandara Dasa, the PraPitamaha of the tradition wrote his krithis in Kannada language. Thus, the music was perhaps called Karnata Sangita in the courts of Mysore kings. Thus, interestingly we have two names, derived from the same original name applied to the tradition for totally different reasons. Both the names continue to be used, with Carnatic or Karnatic or Karnatik used more often in English and Karnataka Sangita used in the vernaculars. Change of spelling from C(arnatic) to K(arnati)k(/c) is because of the modern spelling of Karnataka.

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