NAMASTE:
MUSICAL ICONOGRAPHY AND STUDY OF MUSICAL STONE PILLARS
CONTINUATION:
A figure performing on the Panchamukha Vadyam is sculptured on the base of the northern part of the stone chariot facing the sanctum in the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram.
The Panchamukha Vadyam is a drum instrument.
It is metal drum (nowadays) with five faces.
https://img.dtnext.in/Articles/2019/Jul/201907052145015818_This-chennai-museum-houses-rare-and-vintage-musical_SECVPF.gif
Pancha is five. Mukha is face.
- It is a five faced instrument and it is named after the five faces of Lord Shiva.Sadyojatam, Isanam, Tatpurusham, Aghoram and Vamadevam.
- This instrument belongs to the group of membranophones.
- This instrument is played with both the hands.
- It is used in Temple music.
- The shell is of bronze and from it’s top emerge five hollow cylinders.
- These cylinders are covered with skin.
- The drum heads are all on the same level.
- In some panchamukha vadyams, the central head is at a slightly larger than those of the peripheral faces.
- The diameter of the central face is at a slightly larger than those of the peripheral faces.
- The pitch of the faces is adjusted by tightening or loosening the squeeze of the skin at the region of the neck and below the rim.
- It is played solo and also in conjunction with the Sudda maddalam.
- The Panchamukha vadyam is the pride of the shrines at Thiruvarur and Thiruturaipoondi.
- Árunagirinathar refers to this instrument in His Bhoothavedala paguppu.
- Panchamukha vadyam can be said as the development from the ancient Kudamuzha.
- The notes heard are the swaras in relationship with anuvadi and samvadi.
- It is said that Parasivas are the privileged group of people who are entitled to play this instrument
- This Panchamukha Vadya is an important instrument both in point of music and science.
… to be continued….
PROF. V. MEENAKSHI JAYAKUAMR