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)
87 (of 114)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
200
वीणा - वल्लकी
[vīṇ� - vallakī
] The Indian lute, Vallaki is a type of Vīṇ�, an instrument to be
played upon with the help at the thumb and nails.
अजस्रमास्फालितवल्लकीगु�- क्षतोज्जवलाङ्गुष्ठनखांशुभिन्नय� �
पुरः
प्रवालैरिव पूरितार्धय� विभान्तमच्छस्फटिकाक्षमालया ।।
( [ajasramāsphālitavallakīguṇa- kṣatojjavalāṅguṣṭhanakhāṃśubhinnayā |
ܰ�
pravālairiva pūritārdhayā vibhāntamacchasphaṭikākṣamālayā ||
(] Siśupālavadha I-9)
Nārada, holding in his hand, a rosary of clear crystal beads, which
seemed to be, as it were, to be strunged with coral leeds, in the upper
half in front, being tinged with the rays of his thumb nail that was
polished bright by friction with the lute strings that were ceaselessly
struck with it.
The effect of music is great that is finds place in important
situations, auspicious rituals and ceremonies.
3.10.4 Naiṣadhīyacaritam of Harṣa
Harṣa mentions Music as a Science, Gāndharva Vidyā, in the
Tenth Canto. He mentions for types of musical instruments as Tata,
Āvanaddha, Suṣira and Celika.
Mūrchana (I.52), a technical term is used in the line below.
शशाक निह्नोतुमयेन तत्प्रियामयं बभाष� यद्लीकवीक्षिताम् �
समाज एवालपितासु वैणिकैर्मुमूर्च्� यत्पञ्चमर्मूच्छनास� � �
( [śaśāka nihnotumayena tatpriyāmaya� babhāṣe yadlīkavīkṣitām |
samāja evālapitāsu vaiṇikairmumūrccha yatpañcamarmūcchanāsu ca ||
(] Naiṣadha I-52)
Luckily, even while in company, he was unable to conceal what he
addressed to his beloved seen under illusion, as well as the fact that he
feasted, while the lute players played the cadences of the fifth note of the
峾ܳ.
