The Authority of Musical Instruments in War

போரில் இசைக்கருவிகளின் ஆளுமை

Abstract

Various types of instruments were used during the Sangam period to play music and to add more intensity to music. Ancient Tamils used musical instruments such as murasu, pathalai, yaazh, and types of parai like thudi, aguli, kinai, thadaari, thannumai, and muzhavu. Among these, musical instruments like murasu, thannumai, thadaari, thudi, and kinai were used in battlefields during war. When these were played on the battlefield, they made the warriors' nerves become strong like steel rods, heated up their blood, and provided encouragement to both their bodies and minds. Some instruments were also used to announce the king's orders to the people and to sing and praise the king in order to receive rewards from him.