Musical Instruments—Vina, Venu and Nadaswaram

The Sangita Ratnakara written during the 13 th century mentions 10 types of Vinas named as Ekatantri, Nakula, Tritantrika, Citravina, Vipanci Vina, Mattakokila, Alapani, Kinnari, Pinaki, and Nisamka Vina. tadbhedastvekatantri syannakulasca tritantrika | citra vina vipanci ca tatah syanmattakokila || alapini kimnari ca pinakisamjnita para | nihsankavinetyadyasca sarngadevena kirtitah || Sangita Ratnakara VI - 9,10 The Sangita Ratnakara, of Sarangadeva gives ten varieties of wind instruments, namely, Vamsa, Pava, Pavika, Murali, Madhukari, Kahala, Tundakini, Sukka, Srnga and Sankha. The term Vamsa (or Vamsi) makes clear that this is made to bamboo. vamsah pavah pavika ca murali madhukaryapi | kahalatundukinyau ca cukka srngamatah param || Sangita Ratnakara VI - 11,12 a The Sixth chapter of Sangita Ratnakara (verses 432-436) gives a list of flutes on the basis of inches. Like Umapati as two, Tripurusa as three, Caturmukha as four, Pancavaktra as five, Sanmukha as six, Muni as seven, Vasu as eight so on and so forth. It gives further various names such as Nadendra, Mahananda, Rudra, Aditya, Manu, Kalanidhi etc.

80 Among the Tamil works on this subject, Sage Tiruvalluvar praise the sweetness of the flute-kuzhal-inidu.' The flute is, in common parlance, spoken of as 'Pullankuzhal'. The term 'Pul' literally means not only the grass, but also a reed. In Sangam literature, this has been used to denote all tubular woods. Aintinai (50) and kalittogai (129) say, "Ooranpin ayan vandoodum seersal kuzhalolsai." 'Tiruttondar Puranam' of Sekkizhar, extols the greatness of Anaya Nayanar, who used to play the 'Pancasara', musically on the flute. The Sangam literature 'kuruntogai' (157) and Natrinai (341) mention this: "Vanga Varipparai". In ancient Tamil classics, we come across the words, 'konrai tinkuzhal', 'mullaitinkuzhal' and Ambalamtinkuzhal'. Kamba Ramayana also says, 'Konrai veinkuzhal kovalar'. Three important raga-scales were in the ancient Tamil music. They are: konrai yazh, mullai yazh and ambal yazh. 'Yazh' here does not mean the lute, but only the musical scale. Though it is common to accord the second place to the Venu (flute) in the order Vina - Venu Mrdanga, the Yazh, had to be tuned only on the basis of the Venu. The Sangam classic, kalittogai makes this clear: The flute is not an instrument, manually tuned, unlike the Yazh and Vina. Hence the flute 'weighed' the pitch of the strings. So, the first place is to be given only to the Venu. The lute followed the flute, particularly in tuning.

81 Silapadhikaram', which vividly describes the requisites of players of these three instruments, avers "Kuzhal vazhi nindradu yazhe". The Kuzhal or Venu or Vamsa is a delicate instrument and is capable of producing very delicate graces, embellishments, nuances and shades of music. Nadasvara [nadaswaram] is a robust instrument played mainly in temples and during celebrations like marriage. The instrument is so called since it appears like a cobra. Nadaswaram is played vertically and its tone is also very loud. It is an open-air instrument. Ottu Nadasvaram is a Nadasvaram without finger holes and it served as the drone in Nadasvaram ensembles. Nadasvara [nadasvaram]is a Mangala Vadya'. It has very essential role in occasions, festivals, royal functions etc. utsave caiva yane ca nrpanam mangalesu ca | subha kalyana yoge ca vivahakarane tatha || Natyasastra - Chapter XXXIII - Verse 18