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
67 (of 99)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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82 2
.16.8 Some ancient stringed instruments
痴墨峁嚹�
The Vedas mentions various types of the 痴墨峁嚹�. The Satapatha
Br膩hma峁嘺 (XIII.1.5.1) and the Taittiriya Br膩hma峁嘺 and (III.9.14.1) state
that the 痴墨峁嚹� was an accompaniment for dance (III.4.15.1). There were
痴墨峁嚹乻 (V膩峁嘺) that consisted of 100 strings (Rg Veda 1.85.10 and Yajur
veda VII.5.9.2). Chandogya Upanisad (1.7.6.) refers to 痴墨峁嚹�. The
R膩m膩ya峁嘺 (1.4.8) speaks of 痴墨峁嚹� (string instrument) played by Lava and
Ku艣a while singing the R膩m膩ya峁嘺 艣lokas.
In the Sundara Kanda of the R膩m膩ya峁嘺 (V-10-41) mention is made
on the 痴墨峁嚹� called Vipa帽ci. Vi峁嚹乻 of different names are associated with
different Gods and Goddesses.
Gods/Goddesses / Puranic Characters
Sarasvati
Visvavasu
Tumburu
狈腻谤补诲补
顿补办峁
Their V墨n膩
Kacchapi
叠峁沨补迟颈
碍补濒腻惫补迟颈
Mahati Vallaki
Tumburu Vi峁嚹�
(A list of Vi峁嚹乻 of ancient India is given in the appendix)
Govinda Dik峁ta, a famous musicologist of 16th century, designed
the present day 痴墨峁嚹�. The 痴墨峁嚹� enables a player to render music with all
the nuances of South Indian music. It is considered has being closest to
human voice. The pitcher like portion of the 痴墨峁嚹� is carved out of wood
of Jack tree. The main body and the Stem are gracefully sculptured and
aesthetically decorated. The strings run over a bridge. Twenty-four frets
are arranged over the stem in various lengths. In all, there are seven
strings, four for rendering the r膩gas, over the stem and three on the sides
of the stem for keeping the beat. The player plucks the string with the
right hand index finger near the bridge and with his left hand he presses
the strings on the required frets.
