War in Ancient India c15.2

c15.2

War musical instruments are mentioned from the Ṛg Veda Saṃhitā onwards. It proves that music was a feature of ancient Indian warfare. There were musical instruments which were intended for use only on sacrificial and festive occasions. There were others which were used in both war and peace like *dundubhi*. There were still others which were used only for war purposes. We are concerned here with the second and third categories. *Dundubhi* was a kettle-drum. It was also the earth drum, made by digging a hole in the ground and covering it with a hide.¹ It was employed in religious rites and ceremonies. We meet with the expression *bhūmi dundubhi* in the Saṃhitās² and the Brāhmaṇas.³ From this one has to infer that *dundubhi* might be of different kinds. And *bhūmi dundubhi* was a later invention of the Aryan peoples.