Yazh (also Yaal, Tamil: யாழ், Sanskrit: शततंत्री वीणा) is a direct ancestor of modern day Veena or Lute.It was named so, because the tip of stem of this instrument was carved into the head of the animal Yali. The yazh was an open-stringed polyphonous instrument, with a wooden boat-shaped skin-covered resonator and an ebony stem.[1] The gut strings are called as Narambu in Tamil.[2] Thiruvalluvar, the celebrated Tamil poet from 200 BC, mentions Yazh in his work Thirukkural.[3] Many major Tamil classical literary masterpieces written during Sangam period dating back 200 BC have mentioned Yazh. Silappatikaram written by a Jain monk Ilango Adigal mentions four kinds of yazhs.[4]
- Periyazh with 21 strings
- Makarayazh with 19 strings
- Cakotayazh with 14 strings
- Cenkottiyazh with 7 strings
Other types of Yazh's are
- Mayil Yazh - resembling peacock[5]
- Vil Yazh - resembling Bow[6]
Yazh is a Tamil word. But the Vedas dating back some 1500 BC mention it as Vana in Rigveda and Atharvaveda, from which the modern Veena originated is said to have hundred strings, and is also called as Shatatantri veena or the hundred stringed lute.[7]
The Tamil literature Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai says the strings of a yazh should not have any twists in them. Silappatikaram mentions four types of defects in yazh. Other Tamil literature which have mentions on yazh are Seevaga Sindhamani and Periya Puranam.[8] Yazh is seen in sculptures in the Darasuram and Thirumayam temples in Tamil Nadu and also in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.[9] Swami Vipulananda has written a book of scientific research (Stringed Musical Instruments) in Tamil called the Yal Nool.
Thiruvalluvar had mentioned about the instrument, in one of his hymns as
Kuzhal Inidhu Yazh Inidhu Enbar Thammakkal
Mazhalai Sol Keladavar
In Srilanka, a place name is Yalpanam near Jaffna. The name Yalpanam comes from the words Yal instrument and Yalpanam means the land of lutists.[10]
References [link]
- ^ "Musical instruments played in India". Chapter of SPICMACAY, Cornell University. https://www.rso.cornell.edu/spicmacay/spicmacay_files/home_files/instr.html. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ "Celebrating unheard melodies". The Hindu (India). 25 December 2010. https://www.thehindu.com/arts/magazine/article974391.ece.
- ^ Tamil Literature Society, Academy of Tamil Culture (1966). Tamil Literature Society, Xavier S. Thani Nayagam, Academy of Tamil Culture. ed (in English,Tamil). Tamil culture. Tamil (Indic people). Volume 12. Academy of Tamil Culture. pp. 208,209.
- ^ Rangarajan, Haripriya (2001). Haripriya Rangarajan, G. Kamalakar, A. K. V. S. Reddy, M. Veerender, K. Venkatachalam. ed (in English,Tamil). Jainism: art, architecture, literature & philosophy. Religion / Jainism. Sharada Pub. House,. pp. 372 pages(page:142). ISBN 81-85616-77-9, 9788185616773.
- ^ "Musical Instruments - 2". Government Museum, Chennai, India. https://www.chennaimuseum.org/draft/gallery/02/01/musinst2.htm. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ "Musical Instruments - 3". Government Museum, Chennai, India. https://www.chennaimuseum.org/draft/gallery/02/01/musinst3.htm. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ Macdonell, Arthur Anthony; Arthur Anthony Macdonell, Arthur Berriedale Keith (1995) (in English). Vedic index of names and subjects. India. Volume 2. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. pp. 592. ISBN 81-208-1333-2, 9788120813335.
- ^ "On the basics of conservation". The Hindu (India). 04 December 2009. https://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/12/04/stories/2009120450960100.htm.
- ^ "Recreating treasures of the past". The Hindu (India). 26 December 2007. https://www.hindu.com/ms/2007/12/26/stories/2007122650010100.htm.
- ^ "The splendor of Tamil culture and its endurance". Yarl news (Srilanka). https://www.yarlnews.com/jaffnahistory.php. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
