- Damaru
-
A damaru (Devanagari: डमरु) or damru is a small two-headed drum shaped like an hourglass.[1] The drum is typically made of wood, with leather drum heads at both ends; the damaru might also be made entirely out of human skulls. The resonator is made of brass.The height of the damru is 6 inches and weight varies from 250-330 gm. Skull drum (damaru) on exhibit at the National Music Museum</ref> Its height ranges from a few inches to a little over one foot. It is played single handedly. The strikers are typically beads fastened to the ends of leather cords around the waist of the damaru. Knots in the leather can also be used as strikers. As the player waves the drum using a twisting wrist motion, the strikers beat on the drumhead.
The damaru is very common throughout the Indian subcontinent.[1] The damaru is known as a power drum, and when played, it is believed to generate spiritual energy. It is associated with the Hindu deity Shiva. It is believed that Sanskrit language was recognized by the drumbeats of the damaru (see Shiva Sutra for the sounds), and His performance of the cosmic dance of tandava. The damaru is used by itinerant musicians of all stripes, due to its small portable size.
It is also used in Tibetan Buddhism in a ritualistic trance sadhana of the Chöd.
In the shape of the damaru, the triangular upward representation also symbolizes male procreativity (the Lingam), and the downward representation symbolizes the female procreativity (the Yoni). Symbolically, the creation of the world begins when the lingam and yoni meet at the mid-point of the damaru, and the destruction takes place when they separate from each other.
See also
References
Further reading
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
External links
Categories:- Drums
- Indian musical instruments
- Buddhist ritual implements
- Hindu music
- Indian classical music
- Nepalese musical instruments
- Hinduism stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
