The Ramayana and Musical Instruments

Art is referred as 'Silpa' in Ramayana. It included fine arts such a gita, nrtta, vadya and citrakarma. Valmiki refers to the three tempos and the seven tunes to be sung with proper orchestrations explained in the verse mentioned below. pathye geye ca maithuram pramanaih tribhir anvitam | madhuram jatibhih saptabhih yum tenusri laya samanvitam || bahum / nantri || Ramayana ( I-4-8) To read or to sing it is melodious, adaptable to music with three scales (drta, madhyama, vilambita) and sevenfold tune (sadja, madhyama, gandhara, nisada, rsabha, dhaitava, pancama) and orchestral to the tunes of string-instrument and rhythm included. The Ramayana encompasses all the nine rasas. rasaih srngara karuna hasya raudra bhayanakaih | viradibhi rasairyuktam kavyam etaddvayatam || bhisra samyuktam Ramayana (I-4-9) Aesthetics like romance, pathos, comic, fury, fright, valour etc., embodying the epic is sung (by Kusa & Lava). Kusa and Lava are described as songsters who sing the glory of Rama. tau tu gandharva tattvajnau sthana murcchana kovidau | bhratarau svara sampannau gandharvah iva rupinau || Ramayana (I-4-10) The two (Lava and Kusa) seem like gandarvas, who are conversant with the art of music and proficient with the pitch and pausing their voices, and those two brothers have not only an excellent voice, but they also look like celestial singers.

147 The Ramayana speaks about the specialists in Tala- Sangita who were called Talapacaras. abadhyantam patakasca rajamargasca sicyatam | sarve ca talapracara ganikasca svalamkrtah || va Ramayana ( II-3-17 ) The Talapacaras were adorning the royal path, which was shining with hoisted banners and flags. Sage Valmiki mentions that the Ramayana to be sung along with accompaniment of string instruments in consanance with rhythm. pada baddhah aksara samah tantri laya samanvitah | sokartasya pravrtto me sloko bhavatu na anyatha || Ramayana (I-2-18) This utterance of mine has emerged out of anguished annoyance, and it is well arranged with letters metrically posited, tuneful and rhythmical to be sung with string instrument, and hence, this shall be a verse, not otherwise. In Ramayana it is said, that a Vina without strings properly tuned, should not be played. na atantri vadyate vina na acakrah vartate rathah | na apatih sukham aivarte ya syat api sata atmaja || dheta Ramayana (II-39-29) Vina (Indian lute) does not resonate without chords. Chariot does not move without wheels. Nor can a wife bereft of her husband, even if blessed with hundred children, will not lie happily in comfort.

148 The verses given below refer to the various musical instruments in various chapters of the Ramayana. Instruments like Dundubhi, Mrdanga, Vina, Panava are mentioned in the verse below. dundubhibhih mrdangaih ca vinabhih panavaih tatha | naditam bhrsamatyartham prthivyam tamanuttamam || Ramayana (I-5-18) That city (Ayodhya) is sounding with the drumbeats of great drums, and with musical rhythm instruments like mridnga, cymbals, and with string instruments like Vina etc., and on earth she is uniquely the best city. The sounds of Muraja, Megha and Panava equated with the cloud's thunder can be cited as follows. muraja panava megha ghosava | dadasaratha vesma babhuva yatpura | vilapita paridevanakulam| vyasana gatam tadabhutsudukhitam || suduhkhitam Ramayana (II-39-41) Dasaratha's palace, which was earlier resounding with tomtoms, large drums and Meghas (musical instruments which sound like rumbling of clouds) was now filled with wails and cries and fallen on evil days. Panivadakah the palm players hail the kings glory. tatastu stuvatam tesam sutanam panivadakah | avadananyudahrtya panivada navadayan || apadana Ramayana (II-65-4) While those bards are uttering praises, others who make a bang of claps, patted the claps, eulogizing the previous glorious acts of Dasaratha.

149 The sounds of the divine gongs Devadundubhi are heard all over. tato abhyavartanta ghana divyah kusuma vrstayah | deva dundubhi ghosah ca diksu sarvasu susruve || Ramayana ( II - 91-25) Thereafter wonderful clouds let loose a rain of flowers, while the sound of divine gongs could be heard on every side. We find a nice description of the Concert of Nature in accordance with Musical Instruments. mo satpadatamtri madhurabhidhanam plavamgamudirita kanthatalam | satpada aviskrtam megha mrdamga nadaih vanesu samgitamiva pravrttam || TV Ramayana (11-28-36) Melodious string bass of honeybees as stringed, frogs crocking as vocal rhythm, thunder of clouds as drumbeats, music has commenced in the forest as though programmed. Wind instruments like Venu are referred to in the following verse. venusvanavyanjitaturyamisrah pratyusakalanilasampravrddhah | sammurchito gahvaragovrsanamanyo'nyamapurayativa sabdah || Ramayana (IV-30-51) While describing the spring season, the poet describes the atmosphere being filled by the pleasing sounds of cows and buffalos along with the musical instruments such as Flute etc. Muraja: This drum is reffered to in a stanza. hasitotkrstaninadaisturyaghosapurah saraih | vajrankusanikasaisca vajrajalavibhusitaih || Ramayana (V-4-5) Being hailed by the deep sounds from Muraja etc., shining with brilliant gem-studded mansions resembling the Iravata, the city of Lanka, shone in great brilliance.

150 In the following verses Hanuman sees various instruments in the palace of Ravana in Lanka. Bheri, Mrdanga and Sankha are found mentioned below. bherimrdangabhirutam sankaghosaninaditam | nityarcitam parvahutam pujitam raksasaih sada || Ramayana (V-6-12) The palace was shining with the deep sounds of Bheri, Mrdanga and Sankha, which was always worshipped, rejoiced by the Raksasas who did sacrifices during Parva-kala. Nupura, Mrdanga and Karatala are mentioned in another place. nupuranam ca ghosena kancinam ninadena ca | mrdangatalaghosaih ca ghosavadbhirvinaditam || Ramayana (V-6-44) The palace was shining with the dangling sounds of Nupura (anklets), Mrdanga along with Karatala. The sounds were filling the spaces of the palace. Proficiency in dance and playing the instruments is mentioned in the verse below. nrttavaditrakusala raksasendrabhujankagah | varabharanadharinyo nisanna dadrse harih || Ramayana (V-10-32) Hanuman saw the ladies, who were lying on the shoulders of Ravana, who were well versed in playing the musical instruments as well as dance. Vina is found to be mentioned here. kacidvinam parisvajya prasupta samprakasate | mahanadiprakirneva nalini potamasrita || Ramayana (V-10-37) Hanuman saw a lady sleeping, embracing a Vina as if she was like a lotus stalk, which has clung to a boat, which is floating on a giant river.

151 In the Sundara Kanda of the Ramayana (Chapter V- verses 38-46) we have references to various musical instruments like Madduka (madukenasiteksana ), Pataha (pataham caru sarvangi ), Vipanci (vipancim parigrhyanya ), Mrdanga ( mrdangam paripidyangaih ), Panava (panavena sahanindya ), Dindima (dindimam parigrhyanya ), Adambara (kacidadambaram nari ) and Kalasi ( kalasim apaviddhyanya ). It is the scene of the bedchamber in the palace of Ravana. The ladies are presented as sleeping with musical instruments placed on their body. One was holding it like a child; the other was clasping her arms over an instrument like embracing her husband and so on. There are a few other references that are worth noting. Mrdanga -Muraja nrttena caparah klantah panaviprahatastatha | murajesu mrdangesu pithikasu ca samsthitah || Ramayana (V-11-5) Hanuman saw the ladies who were tired after dancing and rejoicing with intoxicated drinks, who were lying over Mrdanga s and Murajas in the small pedestals. Vallaki klistarupamasamspasadi yuktamiva vallakim | sitam bhartrvase yuktamayuktam raksasivase || Ramayana (V-17-23) Sita was seen by Hanuman, in Asokavanam, looking pale because of no bathing, resembled a Vallaki Vina which was not played, immersed in the grief of separation and was in custody of Rakshasa ladies.

152 Sankha and Turya mattamatanganihsvasairvyakulikrtamarutam | sankhaghosamahaghosam turyesambadhanaditam || suryanadanunaditam Ramayana (VI-10-4) The air was filled with the sighing breaths of elephants in rut, with tumultuous noise produced by the blowing of conches and made to resound by an ensemble of musical instruments. Megha stham tamasthaya rathasresthom mahameghasamasvanam | prayayau raksasana srestho dasagrivah sabham prati || Ramayana (VI-11-4) Ravana the excellent among demons ascended that most beautiful chariot, with a rattling sound of the drum (Megha) resembling the rumbling of a large cloud and then proceeded towards the assemblyhall. Thousands of Musical Instruments (Turya) are played, when Ravana enters, his court. tatasturyasahasranam samjajne nihsvano mahan | tumulah sankhasabdasca sabham gacchati ravane || Ramayana (VI-11-9) As Ravana was proceeding to the assembly-hall, loud blare of thousands of trumpets along with tumultuous noise of conches were produced.

153 Bheri- Mrdanga tatah susruvurakrustam lankayam kananaukasah | bherimrdangasamghustam tumulam romaharsanam || Ramayana (VI-24-3) The sounds of Bheri and Mrdanga resounded in the quarters of Lanka that horripulated the hair of the folk. Plectrum used for Vina na janati pura viryam mama yuddhe sa raghavah | mama capamayim vinam sarakonaih pravaditam || Ramayana (VI-24-43) Ravana threatens and speaks high of his valour that Rama doesn't know his strength that he once devastated the world by playing his mighty blow as a stringed Vina, with the help of Plectrum in the form of arrows. That the drums were used as a means conveying a message is confirmed by a reference. sighram bheri ninadena sphuta kona ahatena me | samanayadhvam sainyani vaktavyam ca na karanam || ni Ramayana (VI-32-43) By a sound of a drum beaten audibly with a drumstick, immediately summon all my forces. Do not tell them the reason for which I am calling.

Musical instruments and the sound produced by them serve as similes in many places as in. tatha raksasabalam ghoram bhimavikramapaurusam | tada dadrse jvalitaprasam kinkinisatanaditam || (VT-75-55) pi Ramayana (VI-62-41 ) 154 The terrifying viguor and mammoth personalities of the raksasas, were seen to be blazing with effulgence like the tinkling of hundreds of kinkini bells. Drums as war instruments are seen in many places. tato bherih samajaghnumrdangascapyanadayan | dudhmuh sankhan samprahrstah svelantyapi yathapuram || Ramayana (VI-50-62) At that time of war, drums were beaten, Mrdangas were played, Conches were blown. The Vanaras rejoiced in extreme happiness. Even the scene in the war field is described beautifully as Yuddha Gandharvam - Martial Music. dhanurjyatantrimadhuram hikkatalasamanvitam | mandastanitasamgitam yuddhagandharvamababhau || Ramayana (VI-52-25) Tha Martial music has the string of the bow as the stringed instrument, hiccups as the rhythmic beats; melancholic lamentations as the raga. tato dundubhinirghosah parjanyaninadopamah | vaditranam ca ninadah puryayanniva sagaram || ra Ramayana (VI-57-29) When the commander started out, the war drums, which sounded like the thunder of the cloud along with instruments and Conches, which agitated even the ocean, were heard.

155 Devadundubhi athantarikse vyanadatsaumyastridasadundubhih | divyagandhavahastatra marutah susukho vavau || Ramayana (VI-111-27) When Ravana was killed, auspicious sounds from the Devadundubhi drums was resounded. Also, there was pleasant fragrance in the wind that was blowing gently. The same instrument sounds signified happiness and joy on auspicious occasions. Sankha and Dundubhi asvanam khurasabdena rathanemisvanena ca | sankhadundubhinadena samcacaleva medini || Ramayana (VI-130-17) When all wives of King Dasaratha, reached Nandigramam, the Earth was, as if shaking by the noise created by the horses and elephants, the wheels of the chariots and the sounds from the drums and Conches. Sankha and Bheri ba sankhabheri ninadaisca vandibhiscabhivanditah | aryapadau grhitva tu sirasa dharmakovidah || Ramayana (VI-130-18) Bharata, who was holding the paduka of Shri Rama, by his head, was prostrated by people and cheered by the sounds of Sankha and Bheri.

Vina, Venu, Mrdanga turyasanghatanirghosaih kancinupuranisvanaih | madhurairgitasabdaisca pratibudhyasva raghava || 156 Ramayana (VI-131-10) Rama being hailed before coronation - Oh! Raghava, let you may awake daily, hearing the auspicious sounds of Vina, Venu, Mrdanga accompanying the singing along with the dangling of the anklets and bangles. Sankha, Bheri and Dundubhi sankhabheri pranadaisca dundubhinam ca nisvanaih | prayayau purusavyaghrastam purim hrmyamalinim || hargya Ramayana (VI-131-33) While Rama's journey to Ayodhya, Rama, the tiger among men, set forth to the city full of beautiful palaces, being hailed by the sounds of Sankha, Bheri and Dundubhi. Turya, Tala and Svastika pa sa purogamibhisturyastalasvastikapranibhih | pravyaharadbhirmuditaih mangalani yayau vrtah || Ramayana (VI-131-37) Rama was preceded by the Turya vadyas along with Tala and Svastika and was hailed by people who were singing in his praise.