Bharatanatyam

The most celebrated art form and It was nurtured in the temples and courts of southern India since ancient times.

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Carnatic Music

It is the classical music of Southern India. The basic form is a monophonic song with improvised variations.

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Indian Musical Instruments

India has a rich musical history with records of ancient musical instruments found in revered Hindu religious scriptures.

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Origin of Shri Kalakshethram

Instrumental MusicInstrumental music has universal appeal, the richness and soothing tones can be appreciated without language and regional barriers. The history of Indian musical instruments can be gathered from various sources such as Literature (folk, general, music), Visual representations (paintings, sculptures, reliefs, models). Most of the Indian musical instruments remain still in use.

Almost every Indian God is associated with a musical instrument. Brahma's consort Saraswathi is seen playing the veena. Vishnu holds the conch, Siva the damaru. Krishna - an incarnation of Lord Vishnu is supposed to have mesmerised all the gopikas by playing his flute ( Venu Gaanam). Sage Narada carries the tambura, Nandi - Lord Siva's disciple plays the Mathalam. Musicological texts ascribe the mahati ( a twenty-one stringed veena) to sage Narada.

In the Ramayana and Mahabaratha, there are several mention of use of musical instruments. When Rama performed the Aswamedha Yaga, several skilled musicians were said to have performed. Ramayana refers to veena, dundhubi, mridangam, bheri, ghata, panava, pataha, dindima. When the priests performed puja, their wives were supposed to have played the veena. The conch had been used during wartime to signify the beginning and end of the day, to alert the army about intruders. Drums were used to convey messages not only during wartime, but also during peace.

There are many musical instruments to be found among the sculptures existing in various temples, cave temples and Buddhist stupas in all parts of India. The therapeutic use of musical instruments had been understood from early days.

The instruments are mostly made using wood, leather, skin, clay. The making of the musical instruments requires great skill & practice in the manufacturing process, combined with some basic knowledge of music & acoustical principles.

The Indian musical instruments are classified into four major categories:

  • Tata Vadya - String Instruments (Chordophonous)
  • Sushira Vadya - Wind Instruments
  • Avanaddha Vadya - Membrane Covered
  • Ghana Vadya - Solid percussion Instruments

Instrumental Courses Handled @ Shri Kalakshetram

Harmonium, Keyboard, Violin, Guitar, Veena and other stringed instruments


A systematic approach to learning in the South Indian Classical style suitable for both beginners and advanced players with or without experience of Western classical music. Starting with simple exercises to build a basic technique, students can quickly move on to learning short pieces in some of the beautifully expressive Ragas (scales).


Mridangam, Tabla and Ghatam


The student is taken through a series of lessons that build a strong foundation by learning the patterns that form the basis of the tabla, mridangam or ghatam technique. Once these have been learnt these patterns are applied to accompany both Bhajans (devotional singing) and Indian Classical Music. Later the student can learn some solo pieces in a variety of different Talas (rhythmic metres).