Temples or kshetras are considered as the treasure houses of Karnatic music. Musical forms, through highly religious and sacred, combined certain elements of folk music. Here one can find the fusion of acting, dancing and meditation. Temple music termed as Sopana Sangeetham was part of temple worship. The most prominent among Sopana Sangeetham, Ashtapadi, is sung by Marar to the accompaniment of Edakka in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Sopana Sangeetham, as the style is referred to, is an off shoot of Naadodi sangeetha or folk music used to be sung during temple rituals. In short, Sopana Sangeetha is ritualistic music in the most perfect form.

Tauryatrika - union of three art forms - is a combination of the three major art forms namely sangeetham, nrittham and natakam. Dravidian music can be considered as the cluster of Tauryatrika which formed the foundation for Sopana Sangeetham. Many of the folk songs used in temples, especially of northern region of Travancore, were associated with ritualistic customs and rites of rural folk. Folk music is exceptionally rich in vividness and variety regarding themes, lyrics, diction and style.

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