Musical pillars Hampi and Nellaiappar temples

The musical pillars of Indian temples

Temple often have some pillars portraying human figures playing musical instruments, but seldomdo these pillars themselves produce music.

Musical pillars of vijaya vittala temple Hampi

At the Nellaiappar temple in Tamilnadu, gentle taps on a cluster of pillars carved out of a single piece of rock produce the basic notes of Indian classical music, viz Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa. Vibrations of these pillars depend on elasticity of the stone used, its density and shape.

Types of music Pillars      

Musical pillars are categorised into three types : The first is called the Shruti Pillar, as it can produce the basic notes - the "swaras". The second type is the Gana Thoongal, which generates the basic tunes that up the " ragas". The third variety is the Laya Thoongal pillars that produce "taak" (beats) when tapped. The pillars at the Nellaiappar temple are a combination of the Shruti and Laya types.
 

Nellaiappar temple Tamilnadu

    Archeologists date the Nellaiappar temple to the 7th century and claim it was built by successive rulers of the Pandyan dynasty.
        The musical pillars of Nellaiappar and several other temples in southern India like those at Hampi (picture), Kanyakumari, and Thiruvanathapuram are unique to the country and have no parallel in any other part of the world.

Vittala Temple Hampi     

It is believed to have been constructed in between 14th and 16th century.
At its center stands a wheelet temple complex-a masterpiece of indian architecture and largest and the most viewed temple in the city.
"Vittala temple was build with a mind of celeectual palace here on the earth. With that in mind the King assembled the great architectures, great engineers and great carpenters to create this wonderful building that can also have the wonderful sounds that will please the God".
      -Deepak Shimkhada Ph.D (Professor of Hindu studies)

Vijaya vittala temple Hampi

The 56 pillars are individually tuned to  one of the seven notes of Sa re ga ma, in Indian sanskrit musical scales dining back thousands of years that is still predominant in hindi music today.
     More than stone pillars themselves, it seems at simple technology. Reasonable analysis have revealed they may be comprised in advanced method of granite with silicate particles and metallic alloys
  It is also believed as each of the pillars was specifically tuned harmonically in order to communicate with God.
Any way the sound making pillars are still wonders the entire world.

Local guide makes sounds with pillars at vijay vittala temple hampi