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THANJAVUR, INDIA, December 10, 2004: More than 100 musical instruments of the stringed, wind and percussion varieties have been mentioned in the Thevaram, Divya Prabandham, Tiruppugazh, Karaikkal Ammaiyar’s verses, the Kanda Puranam and other Tamil works. They are discussed in the recently released book, Alaya Vazhipattil Isaikkaruvikal by Raama Kausalya available from Minambikai Padippakam, Jatavallabhar Illam, 6/78, Tillaisthanam, Thanjavur-613203. Rs. 125 (it is not clear from this report if the book is in Tamil or English). Most of them are still being played only in temples during daily worship, festivals and processions. The percussion-cum-music instrument Gottu Vadyam is played in the Ambal temple in Avudaiyarkoil during evening worship and no other instrument is allowed to be played inside this shrine. The Veena is said to be played in the morning and late night service at the Srirangam Ranganatha temple by the descendent of a particular family which has been rendering this service for 45 generations. It may be news to many that the North Indian stringed instrument Sarangi was being played as accompaniment to Thevaram singing in temples only in the Madurai and Tirunelveli districts. No temple worship can be imagined without the ubiquitous instrument Nagaswaram, which is played according to a specific pattern from morning till night. No less than 18 instruments are played at the Tyagaraja temple in Tiruvarur. Numerous instruments, including a clarinet, were being played at the Sarvavadyam ritual at Cheyyur near Chengalpattu. Many have, however, become obsolete with the passage of time for want of funds and players.

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