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Damaru
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Damaru: Origin

डमरू

The 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

Where did it come from?

The texts tell different stories.

Nandikeshvara Kashika

The drum that gave language

Fourteen beats of Shiva's drum after his dance become the fourteen Maheshvara Sutras of Sanskrit grammar.

Chola bronzes

The drum of the dance

In Nataraja images the drum in the upper right hand stands for creation, opposite the fire of dissolution.

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