Shiva Udukkai
Brie Hoffler
Descripton- The udukkai or uduku is a membranophone instrument used in folk music and prayers in Tamil Nadu and it is originated in Tamil Nadu as well. Its shape is similar to other Indian hourglass drums, having a small snare stretched over one side. The udakku is played with the hand and the pitch may be altered by squeezing the lacing in the middle. The damru in the hands of Lord Shiva is also referred to as udukkai.
Udukkai is a south Indian divine musical instrument that goes with lord siva and ammans. In temple functions and festivals udukkai is used. Udukkai is made up of jackfruit tree wood and goat skin. Now in Udukkai instead of wood, brass mould is also used. Udukkai consists of 3 portions. 2 Portions looks like broken half coconut. These two portions are kept back to back that is larger diameter portion on both outer side and small diameter portion on inner side. This two portions are fixed on a cylindrical brass piece. The specification of the divine musical instrument udukkai goes by the outer diameter. The fast moving is 6 inches. The leather fixed on both sides are tied to each other with ropes. By pressing in the center portion the tightness can be slightly varied. Divine musical instrument udukkai is held in the center with cloth around by and hand and beaten by the other hand fingers. There are specific people to play udukkai. And also there are specific songs to go with udukkai also. Udukkai playing along with divine instrument udukkai songs to get to know the future and act are very common in village amman temples.
Both the instruments are discussed in detail in Pancha Marabu. It identifies both thimilai and idakkai among the 30 skin head percussion instruments of ancient Tamilnadu. Additionally, thimilai is classified under instruments with vigorous sound and it is also a drum used to showcase courage and fortitude. According to Pancha Marabu, idakkai also called kudukkai, is classified under soft sounded instruments and is one of the lead percussion gadgets. This treatise is specified by Adiyaarkku Nallaar (12th century), commentator of Silappadhikaram, as one of the several texts that helped him write his commentary on Silambu. Hence, Pancha Marabu is considered to be a literary work authored before Adiyaarkku Nallaar.
Udukkai consists of 3 portions. 2 Portions looks like broken half coconut. These two portions are kept back to back that is larger diameter portion on both outer side and small diameter portion on inner side. This two portions are fixed on a cylindrical wood piece. The specification of the divine musical instrument udukkai goes by the outer diameter. The leather fixed on both sides are tied to each other with ropes. By pressing in the center portion the tightness can be slightly varied.
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