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)
41 (of 114)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Musical instruments and the sound produced by them serve as similes in many places as in. तथ� राक्षसबल� घोरं भीमविक्रमपौरुष� � तद ददृश� ज्वलितप्रासं किङ्किनिशतनादितं � ( [tathā rākṣasabala� ghora� bhīmavikramapauruṣa� | tada dadṛśe jvalitaprāsa� kiṅkiniśatanādita� || (] VT-75-55) पी [ī ] Rāmāyana (VI-62-41 ) 154 The terrifying viguor and mammoth personalities of the raksasas,
were seen to be blazing with effulgence like the tinkling of hundreds of
kinkini bells.
Drums as war instruments are seen in many places.
तत� भेरी� समाजघ्नुमृदङ्गाश्चाप्यनादयन् �
दुध्मु� शङ्खान� संप्रहृष्टाः श्वेलन्त्यपि यथापुरम् �
[tato bherī� samājaghnumṛdaṅgāścāpyanādayan |
dudhmu� śaṅkhān saṃprahṛṣṭāḥ śvelantyapi yathāpuram ||
] Rāmāyana (VI-50-62)
At that time of war, drums were beaten, Mṛdangas were played,
Conches were blown. The Vanaras rejoiced in extreme happiness.
Even the scene in the war field is described beautifully as Yuddha
Gandharvam - Martial Music.
धनुर्ज्यातन्त्रिमधुर� हिक्कातालसमन्वितम् �
मन्दस्तनितसंगीतं युद्धगान्धर्वमाबभौ ||
[dhanurjyātantrimadhura� hikkātālasamanvitam |
mandastanitasaṃgīta� yuddhagāndharvamābabhau ||
] Rāmāyana (VI-52-25)
Tha Martial music has the string of the bow as the stringed
instrument, hiccups as the rhythmic beats; melancholic lamentations as
the raga.
तत� दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः पर्जन्यनिनदोपम� �
वादित्राणा� � निनद� पूर्ययन्नि� सागरम् �
�
[tato dundubhinirghoṣa� parjanyaninadopama� |
vāditrāṇāṃ ca ninada� pūryayanniva sāgaram ||
ra
] Rāmāyana (VI-57-29)
When the commander started out, the war drums, which sounded
like the thunder of the cloud along with instruments and Conches,
which agitated even the ocean, were heard.
