War in Ancient India c15.16

c15.16

Tamil literature contains many references to war musical instruments. Some of them are koḍumparai, muraśu, pāṇḍil, neḍuvayir, and mayirkkaṇ muraśu. Muraśu is said to be of three kinds of which there was the vīra muraśu, used in war and victory.¹² There is a description of vīra muraśu in Puram 50. Mayirkkaṇ muraśu is the drum covered over with the hairy skin of the dead bull which had vanquished a tiger when attacked. This was beaten when head offerings were made by warriors at the altar of the bhūta.¹³ In the battle by Senguttuvan with the northern kings it is said that the muraśu thundered along with leather koḍumparai, mayirkkaṇ muraśu, neḍuvayir and pāṇḍil. The last is perhaps cymbals.14 All these made a hell of noise so as to enthuse warriors to fight with redoubled vigour and energy. A similar idea is afforded by a stanza in Villiputtūrār Mahābhāratam.