Paksha-vaadyam

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srkris
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Paksha-vaadyam

Post by 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
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Re: Paksha-vaadyam

Post by VK RAMAN »

Good to know that Ramakrishnan. Thanks.

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Paksha-vaadyam

Post by Rsachi »

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

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
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Re: Paksha-vaadyam

Post by srkris »

Thanks Rsachi, which dictionary is this?

Rsachi
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Re: Paksha-vaadyam

Post by Rsachi »

Sir Monier Williams

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