A substitute for nadhaswaram?

[Ponbhairavi]

Nadhaswaram,called mangala vadhyam ,is an indispensable component in all temple rituals daily pujas.

Now a substitute has been created for this noble instrument.In all modern temples which have sprung up in every nook and corner,during pujas,the priest presses a switch and a horrible mechanical contraption is set into motion and two lever arms come down heavily on two metallic drums producing unbearable cacophony.instead of nadhaswaram we hear a jarring ""narasam". Lack of funds is a lame excuse as they spend lavishly on fireworks and other extravaganza.Even if t is partly correct they can have good nadhaswaram recorded music with getti melam on the real thavil
This " machine infernale" is the enemy no one for the development of nadhaswaram music and a movement should be started to rid the temples of this agony

[munirao2001]

Ponbhairavi
The mechanical instrument is not a substitute for nagasvaram but it is for 'ghanta'. Cha/Ghanti/a and Conch are played during the aarathi ritual in the pooja, signifying time for prasaada viniyogam inside the temple and outside the temple premises for grihastas. This is resorted either as a cost cutting measure or lack of volunteers for playing the ghanta.

munirao2001

[vasanthakokilam]

I have not heard about this mechanical contraption before. What is it?

[rajeshnat]

I have not heard about this mechanical contraption before. What is it?

VK,
You are lucky , see the link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-MhLcLuW0s :-@

[vasanthakokilam]

Interesting. Thx Rajesh.

It does not sound like a substitute for nadaswaram but a mechanization of the temple bell, both the hand held one by the priest and the one hanging from the ceiling that someone flicks around to make the bell sound during arathi.

[Ponbhairavi]

The note under the video reads:"divene musical sounds ".i do not know whether it is a promotion advt by the manufacturers. I wish that members who have actually heard this in installed temples give their opinion as to what extent this is musical or diviNe
In temples where there is Astana nadhaswaram and thavil this machine is not found. In temples where this machine is found there is no nadhaswaram or thavil. The administrators of new temples have a preference for this machine OVER thavil and nadhaswaram which is detrimental to these instruments and C M
Munirao: these temples do not have any prasadam to give to the public.thenwhere is the question of calling them in? :-$

[Nick H]

I think that the Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidwath Samajam has one.

I'm sue that many small and some larger temples have them. They make a passable imitation of a non-musical combination of drums, bells and gongs, and I guess that is what they are designed to do. If they are apt for the purpose (not all sounds should be rhythmic and/or harmonious) then maybe they are divine!

I think that I first saw one in London. They can be bought, in Chennai, in Parry's.

(But then... what can't?) )

[vasanthakokilam]

I am reminded of a different temple related experiment that I heard about in my childhood from family members. One British official from the Vaideeswaran Koil area decided to bring some order to the baktha experience of getting that holy water sprinkled on them. You know the scene, it is a bit chaotic. His idea was to erect two pipes running length wise on either side of the main darshan area with a few small holes drilled into them every foot or so. The priest was supposed to pour that holy water at one end and all the bakthas can get a little bit of that sprinkled on them just where they are standing in an orderly fashion.

You might guess what happened. It lasted only for a few weeks. People just hated it. Yeah, it may be more regularized but it took away any semblance of divinity, created a level of indirection between them and God and the user experience they are used to was totally lacking. I heard those pipes were there for quite a long time but unused before they were dismantled.

[Pratyaksham Bala]

.
Auto Drum Bell:

It seems that the 'auto drum bell' was introduced by M/s. RKS Metal Screens in 1980. The story published in 2008 is here: http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/px1ts ... chant.html

It is reported that the owner of the firm said in an interview that it was "... more like a divine revelation, presented to me by the almighty.”

This innovation as well as the invocation are laudable!
.

[munirao2001]

More the auto drum cum bell devices installed, they will drum and ring loudly, the loss of voluntary services of devotees similar to retirement homes indicating the loss of values in joint family living, in India and other parts of the globe, loss of spirit, defeating verily, the worship and prayer.

munirao2001