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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:

83 (of 114)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Warning! Page nr. 83 has not been proofread.

196
que - A large bell tied around the neck at elephants.
उदयत� विततोर्ध्वरश्मिरज्जावहिमरुचौ हिमधाम्न� याति चारतम् �
वहति गिरिरय� विलम्बिघण्टाद्वयपरिवारित वारणेन्द्रलीलाम् ।।
( [udayati vitatordhvaraśmirajjāvahimarucau himadhāmni yāti cāratam |
vahati giriraya� vilambighaṇṭādvayaparivārita vāraṇendralīlām ||
(
]
Siśupālavadha IV-20)
With the Sun, with his string like rays, spread upwards raising (on
one side), and the moon setting (on the other), this mountain resembles
(displace the beauty of) a stately elephant begirt by a pair of bells.
hanging (on either side of his body).
Māgha also refers to Mārjana, which is an operation intended to
make the drum produce pleasing sound. A special kind of powder is
mixed with water, made into a paste and is applied on the face of a
drum so that the surface is softened.
मार्जन� ना� मर्दलाना� ध्वननार्थं भस्ममृदिताभ्यः पुष्करलेपनम् �
( [mārjana� nāma mardalānā� dhvananārtha� bhasmamṛditābhya� puṣkaralepanam |
(
]
Mallinatha on Śiśupālavadha VI, 31)
Māgha describes the various technical aspects of Music. He uses
the figurative usage of musical principles to substantiate even the events
like War.
पुरः प्रयुक्तैर्युद्ध� तच्चलितैलब्धशुद्धिभि� �
आलापैरिव गान्धर्वमदीप्यत पदातिभिः ।।
( [pura� prayuktairyuddha� taccalitailabdhaśuddhibhi� |
ālāpairiva gāndharvamadīpyata padātibhi� ||
(
]
Śiśupālavadha XIX-47)
Before the battle, the army was well arranged with the forces
(soldiers, elephant, horse etc) accordingly with grace like a musical
concert with proper alignment of śruti, svara, laya and pada.

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