Fundamental of Ancient Indian Music and Dance

Author(s): Sureshchandra Benarji
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 55

46
Fundamentals of Ancient Indian Music and Dance
holes will be placed straps which will be sewn, embedded in the straps there will be pieces of potsherd touching the middle part of the instrument both over it and below, the potsherd being tied with three straps the middle part will be encircled firmly, at that place there will be a knot of two straps resembling go-mūtrika', the pieces of leather covering the faces will be firmly tied, of the two rings at the two ends, a kaccha placed in the left one should be fixed in the right and tightly drawn and made twofold, a waist-band made of cloth should be placed in the waist.
As regards the wood to be selected for the construction of the wooden instruments, the general instruction is that, when the kind of wood is not specified, it should be gathered from khadira or red sandai tice. Saingadeva says that trees belong to three species-pittalā, vātalā and sleṣmala. The first kind grows on dry land, the second on land having a little moisture and the third on a fully moist land near tanks. For the purpose of instruments, the first is the best and the second inferior, but the third is to be avoided. The pieces of wood, with the following defects, should be rejected : softness, scar, hole, joints of branches, knot and breach.
For tying the faces of percussion instruments the hide of a six-month (according to some, two-year) old calf is suitable. The straps are made of old bulls. The cow's leather to be struck should be bright like Kunda flowers, moon and snow or slightly coppery like a (new) mango-leaf and free from sinew and flesh. Before use it should be soaked in cold water for one night. The hide, with the following defects, is not fit for use having fat, with the cover of the uterus stuck to it, klinna (moist ?), pecked with the beaks of the crow, spoilt by fire and smoke, worn out.
Ghana
For the instruments made of bell-metal, the metal should
1 The criss-cross manner.
2 Described above.