The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c11.283

c11.283

The conch shell shown in the lower part of the plate is the S'ankhu. It is not in secular use as a musical instrument, but is found in every temple and is sounded during religious ceremonials, in processions, and before the shrines of Hindu deities. In Southern India the S'ankhu is employed in the ministration of a class of temple servers called Dâssari. No tune, so to speak, can of course be played upon it, but still the tone is capable of much modulation by the lips, and its clear mellow notes are not without a certain charm. A rather striking effect is produced when it is used in the temple ritual as a sort of rhythmical accompaniment, when it plays the part of Konnagólu or Tálavinyasa, described elsewhere.