Paksha-vaadyam

[srkris]

Paksha in sanskrit means "half" or something like "part of a whole". So the mridanga (as paksha-vAdya) is what became known as pakkavaajja (or Pakhavaj) in Prakrit, and as pakkavaadyam in Tamil.

Interesting but I used to think until yesterday that pakka-vaadyam is called so since the vaadyam is near/at the side of (Tamil "pakkam") the main performer, hence "side-instrument". So the word pakkam itself goes back to a sanskrit etymological root (through prakrit)!!

[VK RAMAN]

Good to know that Ramakrishnan. Thanks.

[Rsachi]

SRKris,
Yes, in fact the word 'pakka' meaning side is also from the Sanskrit root paksha:


I think another derivation of pakhAvaj could be 'a side-played instrument (or side drum)' as the instrument is struck on its two sides.

[srkris]

Thanks Rsachi, which dictionary is this?

[Rsachi]

Sir Monier Williams