Musical Instruments in Ancient Tamil Nadu

          Musical Instruments in Ancient Tamil Nadu  

Music is a great source of refreshment for the mind and body. We know from literature that Tamil people gave great importance to music during the Sangam period. Various types of musical instruments like murasu, yazh, parai, pullang gujal are clearly mentioned in Sangam literature. Those who made singing and playing their professions were called "panaras" and "viraliyars". References to them can be found in the Perumpanatrupadai and Sirupanatru padai. Musical instruments can be classified as follows.

Leather instruments- Udukkai, murasu. Tavil, parai, mattalam
String instruments- yazh and veena
Wind instruments- gujal and conch

There are many types of parai. Thadari parai Murasu is played during the arrival of kings and during wars. Literature and inscriptions are important evidence to know about musical instruments. You may have heard that the middle stone was taken from the Maravas. 

However, the middle stone was taken from the Panaras. Musical instruments can be found in the sculptures of the gods.
Nataraja-Udukkai
Bhoothaganam- Conch, Melam
Krishna-Flute
Nandi Peruman- Melam
Saraswati- Veena

The music of the ancient Tamils ​​is drum music. The auspicious musical instruments are the Thavil and the Nathaswaram. The cowherds of Mullai Nilathu would gather the herd of cows by blowing the Kuzhal.

Literature Lines

"கருங்கோட்டு சீறியாழ் பண்ணு முறை நிறுப்ப"
"இன்னிசை முரசு  முழங்க"
"புள்ளிமிழ்  தொளிக்கும் இசையே"
"நரம்பின் முரலு நயம் வரு  முரற்சி"
"குரல் புணர் நல் யாழ் முழவோ டொன்றி"

" சீரினது கொண்டு நரம்பினி தியக்கி 
யாழோர் மருதம் பண்ணக் காழோர்"
"பொன் வார்த்தன்ன புரியடங்கு நரம்பின்"


Varieties of Yaazh (String Music Insrument)

1) பாலை யாழ் 
2)  சீறி யாழ் 
3) கருங்கோட்டு யாழ் 
4)  மகர யாழ் 
5)செங்கொடி யாழ் 
6) பேரி யாழ் 

This paalai yazh is made of the skin of a Jaffna deer. The nails are like the eyes of a crab. The braids are like the braids worn by women.

Music Insruments In Pallava Period

1) Tata- look like veena instrument
2) Anaddha- mirudhanga
3) Sushira- Wind instrument 
4) Gana- Solid Instrument
5) Single Stringed veena- Ekadhara veena
6) Drone- yazh
7) veena with pear shaped resonater
8)  Drum
9) Ghata 
9)  Flute
10) Trumpt
11) Cymbals
12) small hand bell 

These instruments can be seen in the sculptures of Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Vidyadharas and Ganas of the time. Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and Kailainathar temples.

Music Instruments In Chola Period

1)  Skin Music Insrument
2)  music instrument with Hole
3) String Instrument
4) Thanjak karuvi
5) Perigai
6) udukai
7) Sangu
8) kuda muzhaa
9) Thimilai
10) kaalam
11) Sekkandi
12) karadigai
13) Thimilai

Inscription About Music Instruments

The Kudumiya Hill inscription of the Pallava king Mahendravarman I mentions the musical instrument "Parivadhani". It also mentions Mahendravarman's title "Sangirana Jati".
The Thaka Thirumayam inscription states that ragas like Gandharam, Panchamam, Thaivattam and Nishadam were present during the time of Mahendravarman.The inscription of Rajaraja I states that he gave alms to those who sang songs and played the veena at the Tindeeswarar temple in the Kidangil

Cholamadevi Thirukailayamudaiyar temple inscription Rajaraja I granted lands "in the vicinity of Uvacha" to two "Uvachars" who played five types of musical instruments called "Pancha Maha Saptham". Virudhunagar District Corrections The stone disk refers to someone who knows the technique of sound music. In some inscriptions, not only musical instruments but also song lyrics are mentioned.

Conclusion
Music in Tamil Nadu has been largely religious in nature. It only changed slightly during the Sangam period.





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