Classification of Indian Musical Instruments with the General
Classification of Indian Musical Instruments With the general background and perspective of the entire field of Indian Instrumental Music as explained in previous chapters, this study will now proceed towards a brief description of Indian Musical Instruments. Musical Instruments of all kinds and categories were invented by the exponents of the different times and places, but for the technical purposes a systematic-classification of these instruments was deemed necessary from the ancient time. The classification prevalent those days was formulated in India at least two thousands years ago. The first reference is in the Natyashastra of Bharata. He classified them as ‘Ghana Vadya’, ‘Avanaddha Vadya’, ‘Sushira Vadya’ and ‘Tata Vadya’.1 Bharata used word ‘Atodhya Vadya’ for musical instruments. The term Atodhya is explained earlier than in Amarkosa and Bharata might have adopted it. References: Some references with respect to classification of Indian Musical Instruments are listed below: 1. Bharata refers Musical Instrument as ‘Atodhya Vadya’. Vishnudharmotta Purana describes Atodhya (Ch. XIX) of four types – Tata, Avnaddha, Ghana and Sushira. Later, the term ‘Vitata’ began to be used by some writers in place of Avnaddha. 2. According to Sangita Damodara, Tata Vadyas are favorite of the God, Sushira Vadyas favourite of the Gandharvas, whereas Avnaddha Vadyas of the Rakshasas, while Ghana Vadyas are played by Kinnars. 3. Bharata, Sarangdeva (Ch. VI) and others have classified the musical instruments under four heads: 1 Fundamentals of Indian Music, Dr. Swatantra Sharma , p-86 53 i. Tata (String Instruments) ii. Avanaddha (Instruments covered with membrane) iii. Sushira (Wind Instruments) iv. Ghana (Solid, or the Musical Instruments which are stuck against one another, such as Cymbals).
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