Damaru

For Surinamese-born singer, see Damaru (singer).
A Tibetan Damaru

A damaru (Skt.damaru; Tibetan ཌཱ་མ་རུ; Devanagari: डमरु) or damru is a small two-headed drum, used in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. In Hinduism, the Damru is known as the instrument of Lord Shiva. The Damru was first created by Shiva to produce spiritual sounds by which this whole universe has been created and regulated. In Tibetan Buddhism, the damaru is used as an instrument in tantric practices. Sage panini listened the sound of damaru from lord shiva and the 14sutras of classical sanskrit grammar were composed.so the sound of damaru is the part of creation of grammar of divine sanskrit language which is most suit even today scientific tests of pronunciations and phonetics.

Description

The drum is typically made of wood, with leather drum heads at both ends; . The resonator is made of brass.The height of the damaru is 6 inches and weight varies from 250-330 gm.[1] Its height ranges from a few inches to a little over one foot. It is played single handedly. The strikers are typically beads fastened to the ends of leather cords around the waist of the damaru. Knots in the leather can also be used as strikers, also crochet material is common. As the player waves the drum using a twisting wrist motion, the strikers beat on the drumhead.

Damru while playing needs no metronome (timing to play) hence symbolises transcendence of shiva, also it does not consist of Human skull as in Hindu cremation skull cracks at the end of ceremony; the conjunction of two lobes of damaru signifies singularity and resembles with concept of matter and antimatter universes emerging from same singularly and it's graphical representation; one beat of damaru Is said to be origin of all beats known to man

Also the traditional symbol do infinity emerges from damaru; use of drums in amazon oriented shamanic culture has same effect as damaru which points at yogic roots of shamanism although with great distortion; damaru hangs on trishul which is also a prominent symbol of yogic culture

In Hinduism

The damaru is very common throughout the Indian subcontinent. The damaru is known as a power drum, and when played, it is believed to generate spiritual energy. It is associated with the Hindu deity Shiva. It is believed that Sanskrit language was recognized by the drumbeats of the damaru (see Shiva Sutra for the sounds), and His performance of the cosmic dance of tandava. The damaru is used by itinerant musicians of all stripes, due to its small portable size.

In the shield shape of some damarus, the triangular upward representation also symbolizes male procreativity (the Lingam), and the downward round representation symbolizes the female procreativity (the Yoni). Symbolically, the creation of the world begins when the lingam and yoni meet at the midpoint of the damaru, and the destruction takes place when they separate from each other.

In Tibetan Buddhism

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the damaru is part of a collection of sacred implements and musical instrument was adopted from the tantric practices of ancient India. These reached the Land of Snows from the 8th to 12th century, persisting in Tibet as the practice of Vajrayana flourished there, even as it vanished in the subcontinent of India.

The Chöd damaru

The Chöd damaru (or chöda) is a specialized form of damaru. It is generally larger in circumference and has a more round shape than its' smaller counter part. The Chöd damaru is used in the tantric practice of Chod.

With no known antecedent, the Chod drum[2] is traditionally made of acacia wood (seng deng), though a variety of beautiful woods are acceptable, as long as the tree is not toxic and does not possess thorns or other negative attributes. Made as a one-piece, double-sided (two-headed) bell shape, size varies from 8" to 12" in diameter. Usually featuring only a thin verneer of varnish, so that the grain of the wood shows, they come the common red (marpo), black (nakpo) or rare yellow (serpo) type of acacia, and are very occasionally painted with skulls, the eight charnel grounds, or other symbols. The waist or belt is traditionally made of leather, though often brocades are used. A set of mantras are traditionally painted on the interior of the drum prior to its skinning.

The pitch of the drum varies, and the tone may vary depending on conditions of dampness, temperature and so on. Played slowly, and methodically, the droning of the damaru accompanies the haunting melodies and chants of the Chod ritual, as of which are accompaniments for the inner meditations and visualizations that are at the heart of this spiritual practice.

The above applies to the ideal manufacture of the damaru, and as still described in the definitive modern work, the "Mindroling Handbook of Vajrayana Implements." Those manufactured in India and Nepal are made of indeterminate and cheap woods, with painted skins, often no interior mantras, and altogether deviating from the many other essentials, as presrcibed in technical literature such as the Mindroling Handbook. Such copies are now widespread and in use by Eastern monastics and Western students.

Chöpen

Damaru of all kinds are traditionally paired with a long sash or tail called a chöpen. The chöpen is attached to the end of the drum's handle so that it waves about while the drum is being played. They are most commonly made of brocade or silk using the colors of the tantric elements. On smaller damaru, the chöpen is usually found without adornment, but on Chöd damaru, the tail will often feature several items which have been sewn onto the fabric. These adornments commonly include but are not limited to: a polished silver mirror or Melong, a set of small bells, strips of tiger and/or leopard skin, one or more precious stones (i.e. Dzi bead), and any number of small brass trinkets.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Skull drum (damaru) on exhibit at the National Music Museum
  2. ↑ "Gallery". DamaruWorks. Retrieved 2012-01-03.

Further reading

External links

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