Mridanga, aka: Mṛdaṅga; 9 Definition(s)
Introduction
Mridanga means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Mṛdaṅga can be transliterated into English as Mrdanga or Mridanga, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Mṛdaṅga (मृदङ्ग): a Musical Instrument.—It is not mentioned in the Ṛgveda. The Jātakas mention Mūtiṅgā probably the same as Mṛdaṅga. But Kauṭilya knows it well. The Rāmāyaṇa mentions Mṛdaṅga as also the Mahābhārata. In later literature we find the origin of this instrument atributed to Brahmā made to serve as an accompaniment to the dance of Śiva in honour of his victory over the three cities and that Gaṇeśa first played upon it.
The Vāyu-purāṇa associates this instrument with the Kurus who used it in their sports for entertainment. The information occurs not in the genealogical accounts but in the chapters on geography. Of the late story of its origin the Vāyu knows nothing. The Rāmāyaṇa tells us that it was also used in war but there is no such reference in the Vāyu.
Source: Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu PurānaMṛdaṅga (मृदङ्ग).—A musical instrument.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 40.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Mṛdaṅga (मृदङ्ग) refers to one of the major types of drums (puṣkara) according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 33. Accordingly, “When the playing of Mṛdaṅgas follow a performance, it is Anuvādya. When the Mṛdaṅgas are played simultaneously with a performance, it is Samavādita”. Mṛdaṅga is a kind of earthen drum still in use in Bengal among the singers of Vaiṣṇava kīrtana.
According to verse 33.242-244.—“Three are the shapes of mṛdaṅgas. In shape they are like myrobalan, barley and cow’s tail. The mṛdaṅga and the āṅkika should be three tālas and a half long, and their face should be twelve fingers in diametre”.
And according to verse 33.272-274, “Mṛdaṅgas are so called because of being made of mṛt (earth)”
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Mṛdaṅga (मृदङ्ग) refers to one of the ten kinds of sounds (śabda) according to the Haṃsa-upaniṣad.
Source: academia.edu: The Yoga of the Mālinīvijayottaratantra
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Mṛdaṅga refers to a type of “drum”, representing one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The musical instruments held in the hands of deities are, for example, Mṛdaṅga.
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Mṛdaṅga (मृदङ्ग).—A two-headed clay drum used for kīrtana performances and congregational chanting.
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryLanguages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
mṛdaṅga (मृदंग).—m (S) A sort of tabor. Pr. mṛdaṅgāsa māra dōhōkaḍūna.
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarymṛdaṅga (मृदंग).—m A sort of tabor.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Mṛdaṅga (मृदङ्ग).—[mṛd-aṅgac kiñca]
1) A kind of drum or tabor; वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानि पुरं प्रविशति प्रभौ (vīṇāveṇumṛdaṅgāni puraṃ praviśati prabhau) Bhāg.1.5.38.
2) A bamboo-cane.
3) Noise.
Derivable forms: mṛdaṅgaḥ (मृदङ्गः).
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Relevant definitions
Search found 138 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Mridangaphala | Mṛdaṅgaphala (मृदङ्गफल).—m. (-laḥ) The jack tree, (Artocarpus integrifolia.) E. mṛdaṅga a drum,... | |
| Mridangaphalini | Mṛdaṅgaphalinī (मृदङ्गफलिनी) is another name for Kośātakī, a medicinal plant identified with Lu... | |
| Mangalyamridanga | Māṅgalyamṛdaṅga (माङ्गल्यमृदङ्ग).—a drum beaten on auspicious occasions; ध्वनिश्च माङ्गल्यमृदङ्... | |
| Mridangapanava | Mṛdaṅgapaṇava (मृदङ्गपणव) refers to one of the eighteen jātis: rules used in the playing of dru... | |
| Mridangaketu | Mṛdaṅgaketu (मृदङ्गकेतु).—Name of Yudhi- ṣṭhira (dharmarāja); मृदङ्गकेतोस्तस्य त्वं तेजसा निहतः... | |
| Sama | Śama (शम).—m. (-maḥ) 1. Quiet of mind, stoicism, indifference, the absence of passion, as one o... | |
| Pushkara | Puṣkara (पुष्कर).—n. (-raṃ) 1. The sky, heaven, atmosphere. 2. Water. 3. A lotus, (Nelumbium sp... | |
| Yoga | Yoga (योग).—m. (Pali id., PTSD s.v. 3; not in Sanskrit), bond, tie, attachment (in Pali numberi... | |
| Jati | Jaṭi (जटि).—f. (-ṭiḥ) 1. Waved-leaf fig tree, (F. venosa:) see jaṭin. 2. Assemblage, multitude.... | |
| Rupa | Rūpa (रूप).—mfn. (-paḥ-pā-paṃ) Like, resembling, (in composition, as pitṛrūpaḥ puttraḥ a son li... | |
| Citra | Citra (चित्र) refers to a “depiction of a painting-two dimensional” and represents a classifica... | |
| Durga | Durgā (दुर्गा) refers to one of the manifestations of Pārvatī or Śakti.—While seeing the Śakti ... | |
| Mandala | 1) Maṇḍala means to “separate the legs leaving twelve toes’ interval” and represents one of six... | |
| Loka | Loka (लोक).—[, see aloka.] | |
| Guru | Guru (गुरु) refers to an “elder” or “preceptor”, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa-māhātmya chapte... |
Relevant text
Search found 15 books and stories containing Mridanga or Mṛdaṅga. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Natyashastra (by Bharata-muni)
Chapter XXXIII - On Covered Instruments (avanaddha)
Part 2 - The Ancient Indian Theory and Practice of Music < [Introduction, Part 2]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Notes on the maṇi-jewl < [Notes]
Part 16: The eight karmas < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Part 22: Bharata resumes normal life < [Chapter VI]
Śrī Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)
Text 7 < [Second Stabaka]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.178 < [Section XXX - Rules to be observed by the Religious Student]
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 10 - Departure of Lord Krishna for Dvaraka < [Canto I - The Creation]
Chapter 83 - Draupadi Meets the Queens of Krishna < [Canto X - The Summum Bonum]
Chapter 90 - Summary of Lord Krishna’s Glories < [Canto X - The Summum Bonum]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)