A ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from Nepal
Historical musical instruments are rare in Nepal. So far, a few examples of ritual instruments associated with former rulers have been identified. A previously unpublished hour-glass-shaped pellet-drum (ḍamaru) from seventeenth-century Bhaktapur is of special interest because it bears inscriptions a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | European Bulletin of Himalayan Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/ebhr/2873 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850264788073971712 |
|---|---|
| author | Nutandhar Sharma Richard Widdess |
| author_facet | Nutandhar Sharma Richard Widdess |
| author_sort | Nutandhar Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Historical musical instruments are rare in Nepal. So far, a few examples of ritual instruments associated with former rulers have been identified. A previously unpublished hour-glass-shaped pellet-drum (ḍamaru) from seventeenth-century Bhaktapur is of special interest because it bears inscriptions and representations of human figures that indicate the date and circumstances of its creation. Particularly significant are the name ‘Jagat-Candra’ – the joint pseudonym of King Jagatprakāśa Malla (ruled Bhaktapur 1643–1672) and his Chief Minister Candraśekhara Siṃha (d 1662) – and a combined portrait of this pair. In the article we describe the instrument, translate the inscriptions, identify all names and figures, consider the possible purpose of the drum’s creation, and assess the symbolic significance of the instrument with reference to the ritual purposes and religious associations of the ḍamaru in South Asia. The ḍamaru of Jagat-Candra demonstrates the close relationship in seventeenth-century Bhaktapur between sound, religious and royal authority, and the worship of Śiva and his consorts; it illustrates the richness of social and cultural significance that a historical musical instrument can carry. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a2b227fc0ce4485b7f1d0f6922a9251 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2823-6114 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Bulletin of Himalayan Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a2b227fc0ce4485b7f1d0f6922a92512025-08-20T01:54:38ZengCentre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ParisEuropean Bulletin of Himalayan Research2823-61142024-12-016310.4000/13mzvA ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from NepalNutandhar SharmaRichard WiddessHistorical musical instruments are rare in Nepal. So far, a few examples of ritual instruments associated with former rulers have been identified. A previously unpublished hour-glass-shaped pellet-drum (ḍamaru) from seventeenth-century Bhaktapur is of special interest because it bears inscriptions and representations of human figures that indicate the date and circumstances of its creation. Particularly significant are the name ‘Jagat-Candra’ – the joint pseudonym of King Jagatprakāśa Malla (ruled Bhaktapur 1643–1672) and his Chief Minister Candraśekhara Siṃha (d 1662) – and a combined portrait of this pair. In the article we describe the instrument, translate the inscriptions, identify all names and figures, consider the possible purpose of the drum’s creation, and assess the symbolic significance of the instrument with reference to the ritual purposes and religious associations of the ḍamaru in South Asia. The ḍamaru of Jagat-Candra demonstrates the close relationship in seventeenth-century Bhaktapur between sound, religious and royal authority, and the worship of Śiva and his consorts; it illustrates the richness of social and cultural significance that a historical musical instrument can carry.https://journals.openedition.org/ebhr/2873ḍamaruNewar musichistory of NepalJagat-CandraJagatprakāśa MallaBhaktapur |
| spellingShingle | Nutandhar Sharma Richard Widdess A ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from Nepal European Bulletin of Himalayan Research ḍamaru Newar music history of Nepal Jagat-Candra Jagatprakāśa Malla Bhaktapur |
| title | A ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from Nepal |
| title_full | A ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from Nepal |
| title_fullStr | A ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | A ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from Nepal |
| title_short | A ḍamaru for Jagat-Candra: a historical musical instrument from Nepal |
| title_sort | damaru for jagat candra a historical musical instrument from nepal |
| topic | ḍamaru Newar music history of Nepal Jagat-Candra Jagatprakāśa Malla Bhaktapur |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/ebhr/2873 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nutandharsharma adamaruforjagatcandraahistoricalmusicalinstrumentfromnepal AT richardwiddess adamaruforjagatcandraahistoricalmusicalinstrumentfromnepal AT nutandharsharma damaruforjagatcandraahistoricalmusicalinstrumentfromnepal AT richardwiddess damaruforjagatcandraahistoricalmusicalinstrumentfromnepal |