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INTRODUCTION.
If all this vast hidden literature on Music existing in manuscripts at present be published, it will supply sufficient material to scholars to construct an authentic history of the origin and development of. Aryan Music in India. Besides these works, the Vedâs,
Bramhanas, Aranyakas, the various Suttras, Smritis, Puranas, and the Kavyas and all such ancient literature, if studied critically with a view to collect materials for a history of Music, will surely disclose much interesting and valuable information. As an instance I may quote here the following passage from Aitareya Ärnyaka which incidentally furnishes a description of the Viņa that was in vogue in those times :. “अथ खल्वियं दैवी वीणा भवति, तदनुकृतिरसौ मानुषी वीणा भवति । यथास्याः शिर एवममुष्याः शिरः, यथास्या उदरमेवममुष्या अम्भणम् । यथास्यै जिव्हा एवममुष्यै वादनम् , यथा अस्यास्तत्रयः एवममुष्या अडलयः। यथास्याः खरा एवममुष्याः खराः, यथास्याः स्पर्शा एवममुख्याः स्पर्शाः, यथा सेवेयं शब्दवती तर्भवती एवमसौ शब्दवती तर्मवती, यथा येवेयं लोमशेन चर्मणाऽपिहिता भवति एवमसौ लोमशेन चर्मणाऽपिहिता । लोमशेन ह स वै चर्मणा पुरा वीणा अपिदधति । स यो हैतो दैवीं वीणां वेद श्रुतवदनो भवति, भूमिप्राऽस्य कीर्तिर्भवति, यत्र कचार्या वाचो भाषन्ते विदुरेनं तत्र " इति
ऐतरेयारण्यक भा० ३ ० २ खं०५
(आनन्दाश्रमपुस्तक पृ० २२२) Now this passage furnishes a good deal of information about the Vind then in vogue. The words Ambhana, Vadana. Tantr yah, Svarah, Sparsah, Sabda and Tardma as applied to Vina have a technical sense and prove that the Modern Viņa (Bîna) has much in common with the ancient Viņâ. Besides, the passage specially records the fact that in earlier times prior to the composition of the work (Aitareya Bramhana ) a part of the Viņa was coverved with leather and that the practice had disappeared at the time of the said work. . Origin of Aryan Music The elements of the art of Music seem to have originated with the Vedic songs called "Samas" which were sung at the time of performing particular ceremonies during a sacrifice. The rules about the singing of these "Samas" are recorded in some ancient Sanskrit treatises. We have no means of ascertaining the process by which the “ Sama" Music
