Essay name: Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature
Author:
S. Karthick Raj KMoundinya
Affiliation: University of Madras / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature and its relationship with the South Indian musical tradition. The study emphasizes the universal appeal of music and documents how it pervades various aspects of life, art, literature, painting, and sculpture.
Chapter 2 - Origin and evolution of Music and Musical instruments
71 (of 99)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
86
Through Pur膩峁嘺s we learn that when the sages N膩rada and
Tumburu played the V墨峁嚹�, and the Pur膩峁嘺s also convey, that R膩va峁嚹�
captivated Lord Siva by his V墨峁嚹� playing. Records show that Kovalan
and Madhavi were experts on playing the Sengo峁弓i y膩zh
(Cilappatik膩ram- 2.13.106).
There is evidence showing that the Y膩zh and V墨峁嚹� were utilized as
accompanying instruments as well. For example, there is a reference in
膧di Sankar膩's 'Saundaryalahari' (Verse 66) that Goddess Sarasvati
played the V墨峁嚹� in the court of Goddess Parame艣vari.
It is to be noted that Pi峁嚹乲i V墨峁嚹�, K奴rma V墨峁嚹� and R膩va峁嚹乻ram are
in fact types of bowed instruments. Another instrument called V墨nai
Ku帽ju is even today seen in Kerala where gypsies and tribals play on it.
Gottuv膩dyam (Citrav墨峁嚹�) was known much earlier as Mah膩 N膩峁璦ka
痴墨峁嚹�.
2.16.9 Bowed Instruments:
Historical facts: It has been pointed out earlier that instruments
like Pi峁嚹乲i V墨峁嚹�, K奴rma V墨峁嚹� and R膩va峁嚹乻ram were bowed instruments.
In the outer precincts (prak膩ram) of the Na峁璦r膩ja temple in
Chidambaram, there is a sculpture showing a female figure handling an
instrument similar to the European Violin. This sculpture is dated
around the 13th century. In 艢rirangapatna, Karn膩峁璦ka, there is a painting
(dated 1784 AD) in which a lady is shown playing a violin-like
instrument.
