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Damaru: FAQ & Sources
डमरूThe damaru is the small hourglass-shaped drum of Shiva, held in Nataraja's upper right hand. Its sound stands for the rhythm of creation, and tradition holds that its fourteen beats gave rise to the Maheshvara Sutras, the basis of Sanskrit grammar.
Borne byशिShiva
Frequently asked questions
What is Shiva's drum called?
The damaru, a small hourglass-shaped drum.
What does the damaru symbolise?
The sound of creation; in Nataraja images it is paired with fire, the symbol of dissolution.
What are the Maheshvara Sutras?
Fourteen lines arranging the Sanskrit sounds, traditionally said to come from Shiva's drum, which Panini used for his grammar.
Sources
- Nandikeshvara Kashika
- Ananda Coomaraswamy, The Dance of Shiva (1918)
- Chola bronzes of Nataraja (10th-12th century)
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