A damaru or damroo is a small two-headed drum, used in
Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. Damru is known as the instrument of Lord Shiva. Damru
was first created by Shiva to produce spiritual sounds by which this whole
universe has been created and regulated. The drum (damru) is typically made of
wood, with leather drum heads at both ends; the damaru might also be made
entirely out of human skulls. The resonator is made of brass. The height of the
damru is 6 inches and weight varies from 250-330 gm. Its height ranges from a
few inches to a little over one foot. It is played single headedly. The
strikers are typically beads fastened to the ends of leather cords around the
waist of the damaru. Knots in the leather can also be used as strikers, also
crochet material is common. As the player waves the drum using a twisting wrist
motion, the strikers beat on the drumhead. The damaru is very common throughout
the Indian subcontinent. The damaru is known as a power drum, and when played,
it is believed to generate spiritual energy. It is associated with the Hindu
deity Shiva. It is believed that Sanskrit language was recognized by the
drumbeats of the damaru (see Shiva Sutra for the sounds), and His performance
of the cosmic dance of tandava. The damaru is used by itinerant musicians of all
stripes, due to its small portable size. In the shield shape of some damaru’s,
the triangular upward representation also symbolizes male procreativity (the
Lingam), and the downward round representation symbolizes the female
procreativity (the Yoni). Symbolically, the creation of the world begins when
the lingam and yoni meet at the midpoint of the damaru, and the destruction
takes place when they separate from each other.
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