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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 3 - Musical Instruments of India (with reference to Sanskrit literary sources)

Page:

37 (of 114)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Warning! Page nr. 37 has not been proofread.

150
In the following verses Hanuman sees various instruments in the
palace of Rāvana in Lanka.
Bheri, Mrdanga and Sankha are found mentioned below.
भेरीमृदङ्गाभिरूत� शङ्कघोषनिनादितम् �
नित्यार्चितं पर्वहुतं पूजितं राक्षसैः सद� �
[bherīmṛdaṅgābhirūta� śaṅkaghoṣanināditam |
nityārcita� parvahuta� pūjita� rākṣasai� sadā ||
]
Rāmāyana (V-6-12)
The palace was shining with the deep sounds of Bheri, Mrdanga
and Sankha, which was always worshipped, rejoiced by the Rākṣasās
who did sacrifices during Parva-kāla.
Nūpūra, Mṛdanga and Karatāla are mentioned in another place.
नूपूरणां � घोषे� काञ्चीना� निनदेन � �
मृदङ्गतलघोषै� � घोषवाद्भिर्विनादितम् �
[nūpūraṇāṃ ca ghoṣeṇa kāñcīnā� ninadena ca |
mṛdaṅgatalaghoṣai� ca ghoṣavādbhirvināditam ||
]
Rāmāyana (V-6-44)
The palace was shining with the dangling sounds of Nūpūra
(anklets), Mrdanga along with Karatāla. The sounds were filling the
spaces of the palace.
Proficiency in dance and playing the instruments is mentioned in
the verse below.
नृत्तवादित्रकुशल� राक्षसेन्द्रभुजाङ्कगाः �
वराभरणधारिण्यो निषण्ण� ददृश� हरिः �
[nṛttavāditrakuśalā rākṣasendrabhujāṅkagā� |
varābharaṇadhāriṇyo niṣaṇṇā dadṛśe hari� ||
]
Rāmāyana (V-10-32)
Hanuman saw the ladies, who were lying on the shoulders of
Rāvana, who were well versed in playing the musical instruments as
well as dance.
Vīnā is found to be mentioned here.
काचिद्वीणा� परिष्वज्� प्रसुप्त� संप्रकाशते �
महानदीप्रकीर्णे� नलिनी पोतमाश्रित� �
[kācidvīṇāṃ pariṣvajya prasuptā saṃprakāśate |
mahānadīprakīrṇeva nalinī potamāśritā ||
]
Rāmāyana (V-10-37)
Hanuman saw a lady sleeping, embracing a Vīṇ� as if she was like
a lotus stalk, which has clung to a boat, which is floating on a giant river.

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