>Neconnaitpoint at 17:27, 30 September 2021

2021-09-30T17:27:59Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
'''Akshara Slokam''' (അക്ഷര ശ്ലോകം) is a traditional way of [[Śloka|Sloka chanting]], a poetic entertainment developed in the [[Malayalam]] (മലയാളം) language of [[Kerala]], India. It is in a classical format with strict rules on the meter of [[quatrain]]s called ''slokas'' or ''mukthaka''. A number of scholars sit to recite either [[Sanskrit]] or Malayalam slokas ( with more than eight letters in a line ). Once the recitation is started the next one in the turn has to recite a sloka having the first letter of the third line of the previous sloka. This resembles the north Indian [[Beit bazi]].

It is mostly unused, but is active as the forerunner of the present day [[Anthakshari]] (അന്താക്ഷരി). Kairali Solaka Rangam Palai, Kundoor Smaraka Sadas and Amritabharathi Aksharashloka Samiti Chunangad are some of the famous Aksharasloka institutions in Kerala. Koonammoochi aksharaslokavedi and Ariyannur aksharaslokakalakshethram are worth mentioning for their contribution in the field of publishing many books related to aksharaslokam like aksharasloka directory (the first ever and the only one till date) containing names and addresses of aksharasloka artists. There are many active groups in Kerala from [[Kozhikode]] to [[Thiruvananthapuram]] with [[Trichur]] as the hub of the revival. There is a magazine dedicated for slokam called Kavana Kauthukam published from Trichur. Akhila Kerala Aksharasloka Parishath and Kerala Aksharasloka Federation are two organisations for propagating aksharaslokam. Aksharaslokam is an item in the prestigious school youth festival of Kerala.

== Competitions ==

[[File:AK Prizes.jpg|thumb|right|Award statues for Aksharaslokam competition]]
One of the prominent Aksharaslokam competitions is the one held in connection with the [[Thrissur Pooram]]. Traditionally this competition was called the "Chakolas Gold Medal". Eventually it has been renamed now as "V. Kamalakara Menon Suvarna Mudra". The first winner of the Chakolas Gold Medal was late U.P. Raghava Warrier, popularly known as UPR. That was in 1955. The second position was won by Late Chengamanad Damodaran Nambiar. The four artists who survived till the end included late N.D.Krishnan Unni and Late Kamalakara Menon. The judges were Sri.Puthezhath Raman Menon,
Kunjunni Raja and K. Vasudevan Moosad. As per tradition, participants who have won the Gold Medal once do not participate in the competitions again. Currently, separate competitions are held for groups separated as per their age. The Government of Kerala conducts prestigious competitions for children in connection with school yuvajanotsavams (youth festivals). The Guruvayoor Devaswam conducts two prominent competitions with gold medal as first prize. One is Sree Guruvayoorappan suvarna mudra on Guruvayoor Ekadasi day. The other is in connection with Narayaneeyam day. Slokas from Narayaneeyam alone can be chanted in the latter.

==External links==
*[http://aksharaslokam.blogspot.com/] Link to aksharaSlOkasadass
*[http://aksharaslokam.usvishakh.net/] To read Akshara slokams in Malayalam
*[http://malayalam-aksharaslokam.blogspot.com/] Link to Malayalam Aksharaslokam
*[https://groups.yahoo.com/group/aksharaslokam/] Link to Yahoo group for Akshara slokam
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120217174229/http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=2603366339398574760] To view/ listen video/audio on aksharaslokam
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071221050910/http://www.guruvayurdevaswom.org/cawards.shtml] Akshara Slokam Competitions in Kerala
*{{cite web|title=Aksharaslokam Video by ONV NAMBOODIRI |url=http://www.geocities.com/thrikkavudevaswom/aksharaslokam.htm |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5kmEYggkY?url=http://www.geocities.com/thrikkavudevaswom/aksharaslokam.htm |archivedate=2009-10-25 |url-status=dead }}
*[http://www.aksharaslokam.com www.aksharaslokam.com]
*[http://www.aksharaslokam.wordpress.com Kerala Aksharasloka Federation]

[[Category:Culture of Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian poetics]]

Aksharaslokam - Revision history

>Neconnaitpoint at 17:27, 30 September 2021