Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: Origins of Tabla [Re: hindutva] #13065 - 03/06/02 09:21 PM Edit Reply Quote

Dear Julie and Manish, If you want to find out more about the history Indian Music(al instruments) please read the books of Svami Prajnanananda who has done much research on this. The Tabla is just like the Sitar and the Sarangi a hybrid instrument which is based on older Indian instruments adapted to the timeframe. Temple depictions of tablalike instruments are collected by Svami ji. For instance the Pushkara vadya or panava. Most of the instruments are dated around the seventh century AD some later, but all of them before the time of Khushrau. In no book of the hand of Khushrau did he mention to have invented the Tabla or Sitar. That information is based on the Muslim musicians from Faqirullah (who wrote a book on Hindustani music in Persian, I believe) of Mughal times on, and mainly in the nineteenth century. The Tabla was first recognized through the Dhadhi or Dharhi community of Delhi. These were former Hindus, probably coming from the Panjab-Rajasthan area, becoming gradually Islamized when in Mughal court. This Delhi Dhadhi family moved partly to Lakhnau. From the Lakhnavi tradition evolved the Banaras tradition, which was also based on their older Pakhavaj tradition and also Kathak dance tradition.