A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c12.61

c12.61

The arts of music and dancing were highly developed and popular. Musical instruments of various types are described and included many kinds of *yāḷ* (a stringed instrument like the lute) and varieties of drums. Karikāla is called 'the master of the seven notes of music'. The flute is quaintly described as the 'pipe with dark holes made by red fire'. Conventions had grown up regarding the proper time and place for each tune. *Viralis* sometimes danced at night by torchlight and particular dance-poses of the hands are mentioned by name as in the *Nāṭyaśāstra* of Bharata. Mixed dances in which men and women took part were also known. In this sphere a conscious and systematic attempt was made to bring together and synthesize the indigenous pre-Aryan modes (*dēśi*) with those that came from the North (*mārga*), the result of which is reflected fully in the *Śilappadikāram*, a work of the succeeding age. This subject, however, is too complicated and technical to be pursued further here.