3. The Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa and Modern Music

Indian classical Music is highly influenced by the Nāṭyaśāstra, the Saṃgītaratnākara etc. As the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa follows the Nāṭyaśāstra in a great extent, this work also influences somehow the Indian classical Music. Actually the elements of Music such as the seven notes viz. ṣaḍja, ṛṣabha, gāndhāra etc., tāna, mūrcchanā etc. as found in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa are regarded as the primary components of Indian Music.^[1] Moreover, the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa catagorises string instrument, wind instrument, solid instrument and percussion instrument as tata, suṣira, ghana and avanaddha respectively. The pictures of some modern instruments, which fall under these four categories are shown here.

Figures:
String Instruments: Guitar^[2] , Violin^[3] ;
Wind Instruments: Flute^[4] , Trumpet^[5] ;
Solid Instrument: Bell^[6] ;
Percussion Instrument: Tabla^[7] .

Moreover, some indigenous instruments of Assam can also be classified under these four kinds of instruments as stated in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa. Instruments like dotārā falls under the category of tata i.e., string instrument. Instruments like pepā, gaganā, sutulī etc. fall under the category of suṣira i.e., wind instrument. mañjirā, bhortāl and khutitāl are three kinds of tāla, fall under the category of ghana i.e., solid kind of instrument. Moreover, an instrument named ṭakā, made of bamboo also can be regarded as ghana kind of instrument. Instruments like bihudhol, khol, dabā, dagar, nāgārā etc. are avanaddha kind of instrument. The pictures of these indigenous instruments of Assam are shown here.

Figures: Pepā^[8] , Gaganā^[9] , Sutulī, Bhortāl^[10] , Bihudhol^[11] , Dotārā^[12] , Ṭakā^[13] .

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Bimalakanta Roychaudhuri, The Dictionary of Hindustani Classical Music, pp.75 & 122

[2]:

Source: AcousticGuitar.com/Win

[3]:

https://www.amazon.com/Hey-Play-Violin-Adjustable-Strings/dp/B08BCSTZ51

[4]:

https://www.amazon.in/Thaala-Indian-Wooden-Flute-Holes/dp/B07CNTVCX9

[5]:

https://www.ubuy.co.in/product/207E86U-kaizer-c-series-3000-standard-b-flat-bb-trumpet-all-new-2020-model-gold-lacquer-rose-brass

[6]:

https://www.flipkart.com/ogcombo-brass-temple-ghanta-bell-pooja-1kg/p/itm8707a749b4aa9

[7]:

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/professional-folk-musical-instrument-brass-tabla-high-quality-drums-set-with-bag-23234620688.html

[8]:

https://asiainch.org/craft/musical-instruments-of-assam/

[9]:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gogona

[10]:

https://www.kahibati.com/tal-assamese

[11]:

https://www.amazon.in/onoinya-Assamese-Traditional-Dhol-Multi-Colour/dp/B01ELL5KCQ

[12]:

https://chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/dotora.html

[13]:

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/object/2004.573/