Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

worshipped with flowers, paddy, millet,

and honey. Goats are sacrificed in his

honour. He became äryanized as

Subrahmaæia. (See alsoKÄRTTIKEYA.)

music

The earliest form of Hindu music is the

chanting of the Vedic HYMNS: Vedic

recitation would have been fruitless if

not done according to the tunes

(sämans) provided. The pitch is noted in

modern editions of the Øgveda and has

to be follwed by every reciter. Musical

instruments are in evidence on ancient

sculptures and were associated with

particular deities: the vïna with

Sarasvatï, the drum with Ÿiva, the flute

with Kø•æa, and so on. Music making

was done not only for the entertainment

of gods and humans but was also con-

sidered a religious exercise (sädhana).

The professional study of music under a

master followed a prescribed routine. It

consisted mostly of mastering the RÄGAS

and learning to develop these. There

was no musical notation and all training

was aural. Classical Indian music

recitals have the atmosphere of wor-

ship, often made explicit by prayers at

the beginning of the performance and

the character of the music played.

Muyälahan (‘the man of sin’)

A dwarfish figure crushed by Ÿiva in his

dance, symbolizing everything wicked

and evil.

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