History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c37.s1.t5.9

v1.c37.s1.t5.9

The shape of the instrument differs. These were barrel shaped (Mṛdaṅgam) hour glass shaped (Udukkai), cylindrical shaped (Pambai), conical (Damaram), pot shaped (Kuda muzha) etc. Drums are classified as martial drums, ceremonial drums, and message drums. The body of the Mṛdaṅgam is scooped out of single block of wood. Jack wood, red wood or the wood of the Margosa tree is used for making the body. The core of the coconut tree and palm tree are also used for the purpose. On the right of the Mṛdaṅgam, the inner most layer and the next ring are of cow skin and the outer most is of goat skin. First the three skins are stitched over the right head in a tight manner. The outer skin is sliced off the middle to make the inner ring and the inner most layer visible. The skin is stretched over the shell. Then the skin is dried in the sun. The skin of left head with the layers using cow and goat skins are also prepared in the same manner. After drying, both the heads are fixed tightly to the shell by putting circular rings of twisted leather straps on both the drum heads.