The most ancient percussion instrument in India is a
Mizhavu.
๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ก๐๐ฏ ๐จ๐ซ
๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ฎ (Malayalam: เดฎിเดดാเดต്) is a big copper drum played
as an accompanying percussion instrument by hand.
Since it is used in temples or Koothambalams, mizhavu is considered sacred.
It is perhaps the oldest musical instrument still used today in the Indian
subcontinent. It was initially constructed of mud and was the simplest
instrument to make by placing wet calf leather over a mud pot. However, it
eventually changed into pure copper.
According to ancient mythology, Mizhavu was the musical instrument used when
Lord Shiva danced (Shiva Thandava), and Nandikeswaran played the Mizhavu.
Tradition says playing a mizhavu creates a spiritual bond between the hand and
the skin. Your hand's skin and the skin of the mizhavu.
The Mizhavu is referred to as Muzhavu in the ancient literature Silappadikaram,
an epic poem written in Tamil Nadu between the fifth and sixth centuries AD by
Prince Ilango Adikal.
๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
accompanies the Mizhavu. Elathalam, or Ilathalam, is a metallic musical
instrument that resembles a miniature pair of cymbals. This two-piece
instrument is constructed entirely of bronze.
Elathalam is performed by holding one part of the cymbal in the left hand while
striking the other cymbal. Although this instrument is modest in size, it is
thicker than a typical cymbal and produces a distinct chime as a result.
Elathalam is never played as the lead instrument, but it is a component of many
traditional Kerala percussion ensembles, including Koodiyattam, Panchavadyam,
Chenda Melam, Thayambaka, and Kailaya Vathiyam. It is also used by the second
singer on a Kathakali stage and to keep the pace in Kuzhal Pattu and Kombu
Pattu.
Mizhavu and Elathalam accompany ๐ค๐จ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฒ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ฆ,
๐ง๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐๐ซ ๐ค๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ฎ,
๐๐ก๐๐ค๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐ค๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ฎ,
๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ฎ
๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ค๐.
๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฒ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ฆ
is a traditional performance art form in the Indian state of Kerala. Its name
translates to "combined act" in Malayalam.
๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐
๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐๐
๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ
๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐
๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐
๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ
๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐
๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐
๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
Koodiyattam is typically performed in Koothambalams at temples and combines
elements of the old performing art known as Koothu with ancient Sanskrit
theatre.
It is the only art still in existence that employs drama from classical
Sanskrit theater.
In Kerala, it has a documented history dating back a thousand years, although
its roots are unknown.
Ancient Indian temples, notably those in Kerala, featured theatrical dance
worship rites such as Koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu.
The ancient art form koothu, which is mentioned numerous times in Sangam
literature as well as the epigraphs of the succeeding Pallava, Pandiyan, Chera,
and Chola periods, is the source of both koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu.
Tanjore, Tiruvidaimaruthur, Vedaranyam, Tiruvarur, and Omampuliyur temples all
include koothu-related inscriptions. Along with the recitation of hymns from
the Tevaram and Prabandam, they were regarded as essential components of sacred
ceremonies.
The creators of works for these services include ancient kings. There is proof
of these from the Chola and Pallava eras across the ancient subcontinent. The
Tamil play Kailasodharanam, which deals with Ravana becoming the target of
Siva's wrath and being cruelly humbled as a result, is credited to a Pallava
king by the name of Rajasimha.
The Chera Perumal dynasty monarch Kulasekhara Varma is credited with reforming
koodiyattam by including the regional language for Vidusaka and organizing the
play's presentation into discrete pieces. Subhadradhananjayam and
Tapatisamvarana, two plays he personally composed, were presented on stage with
the assistance of a Brahmin friend (Thozhan). Plays like these are still
presented.
๐๐ก๐๐ค๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ฎ
is a performance art form from Kerala, India. The actor relates scenes from
Hindu epics (such the Ramayana and the Mahabharata) and stories from the
Puranas in what is mainly a type of highly skilled monologue. It can be
compared to the modern stand-up comedy routine in that it includes commentary
on current sociopolitical events as well as direct personal remarks to the audience
members
"Koothu" is a misnomer because there is little
choreography and more emphasis is given on facial expressions.
It is a solo performance by a storyteller with a peculiar headpiece, a black
mustache, sandalwood paste all over his body, and red spots. The headpiece
represents the narrative by Anantha, the thousand-headed serpent, by resembling
a snake's hood.
๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ฎ,
a more sophisticated type of theatre performed entirely by women known as
Nangyarammas, is the other art form used in temple performances using the same
instruments.
Two instruments that accompany all these various types of ancient performances
are - a mizhavu (the drum) and a pair of ilathalam.
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