In India everything has a divine origin. Music comes from the Gods. Brahma<\/b>, the creator, has also created the universe, the world, with the primeval sound, the song ‘\u00d4m’.<\/p>\n

Brahma<\/b>, the creator, is a singer; all the Gods of Indian mythology are musicians. Shiva<\/b>, plays the Damaru<\/b>, symbolizing the sound pulse, source of all creation, but also rhythm (Damaru<\/b>, double small hourglass drums). Ganesh<\/b> plays the mridang<\/b> (elongated barrel shaped drum providing two-sided percussion \u2013 a temple instrument – sanskrit: mrid ‘land’ and ‘body’ ang). Hamunan<\/b> played little cymbals on handles and also the mridang<\/b>. Sarasvati<\/b> plays the vina<\/b>, and Krishna<\/b> plays the bansuri<\/b> (great flute), etc.<\/p>\n

There is even a celestial orchestra, consisting of musicians: the ghandarvas<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Indian music is very diverse but can be divided into two broad types, one designed for expression to the divine in the temples, the other for the pleasure of the King and Princes and for popular entertainment.<\/p>\n

With time and geopolitical changes (invasions) classical music has divided into two kinds, the so-called Southern “carnatic” music is integrated with dance, while the so-called Northern ‘Hindustani’ music brings together Muslim and Mughal influences.<\/p>\n

Carnatic musical instruments include the Vina (stringed instrument, called Saraswati vina or Vi\u00f1a carnatic) and mridangam (long two-ended drum), accompanied by the “tambura” (called tanpura in the North), which produces a harmonic drone throughout (now replaced by an electrical appliance, alas !).<\/p>\n\n\t\t