Damarukam

 Damaru:

                     The Damaru is a small hourglass-shaped drum which is played by twisting it so that the knotted ends of a cord tied around its waist will strike the skins alternately.It is a small drum with two sides separated from each other by a thin neck-like structure symbolizes the two utterly dissimilar states of existence, unmanifest and manifest. 

Cosmic sound of aum:

                        When a damaru is vibrated, it produces dissimilar sounds which are fused together by resonance to create one sound. The sound thus produced symbolizes Nada, the cosmic sound of AUM, which can be heard during deep meditation.

Nadam:

                       According to Hindu scriptures, Nada is the source of creation.It is said that when Shiva was dancing in one of the modes of dance (the taaNDavartya), he sounded his Damaru 14 times. When the Damaru is twisted in one revolution, it often makes the sounds of three successive tones. The sounds that Lord Shiva made with His Damaru were a-i-un, r-lR^i-k, etc. These sounds are know as the maaheshvarasuutras.

These 14 basic formulae contain all the alphabets in sanskrit arranged in ways to facilitate various grammatical processes. Therefore, the Damaru represents the alphabets, grammar, and language itself. It represents all words, spoken or written; all arts and sciences, sacred and secular. It represents knowledge, both sacred and secular.

Origin of Damaru

                      There have been mentions of Dimdima and Dhakka, some variations of this instrument, in the Mahasutasoma, Amarakosa and Jataka Astadhyayi, and in many other places. Damarukam has been mentioned in various Old Tamil literatures also. A few other names by which this instrument is represented are Dambru, Damru, Budbudke, Kudukuduppai and Budbudukalu, the last two names belonging to languages from South India. Although its use in more recent folk music is rare, it is commonly seen with minstrels who are wandering and soothsayers.

 According to Hindu scriptures :

                    Whole System of Sanskrit Grammer emerged from Lord Shiva's Damaru ( including sanskrit language itself ) ( Damaru or Drum , was kept by ancient Hindu Ascetics along with a kamandal (pot for drinking water ) along with a Spear or Trishul ( trident) also wrapping themselves in Tiger's Skin ) Scholar Panani in ancient India wanted to write Sanskrit Sutras on Sankrit Grammer ( a language, which incidentally , has also emerged from Shiva's Damaru ). 

He was meditating on Lord Shiva for this purpose , by his grace , he was intuned to the celestial dance of Lord Shiva during the time of Sandhya ( Sanskrit for Twilight hour ), from the sound of the Shiva's Damaru , Panani created all the necessary sutras for the sanskrit grammer.

14 sounds of Damaru:

                    Aiun,. Rlrk, Aowng, Ai ouch, Ha ya VA rat,Lan, Na ma nga na nam,Jha bhanj, Gha dha dhash, Ja ba ga da das, Kha pha chha tha tha cha ta tav,Ka pay, Sa sha sar and Hal.

Damaru-The sound of dharma:

                   The damaru is the sound of Sunyata or complete openness, a bridge that connects us to the essential source, the basis of being that is beyond name and form. It is also a unique channel for the profound blessings and power of the lineage and a portal for the mystical forces that protect the dharma. 

The damaru is thus the sound of the dharma itself and a proclamation of the fearlessness of the solitary yogin or yogini.

Damaru symbolises the creation:

                    There is also a symbolism regarding the shape of the Damaru - the top portion of the Damaru symbolizes the male creativity of procreation (the Lingam), and the downward representation symbolizes the female creativity of procreation (the Yoni). 

Symbolically, the creation of the world begins when the lingam and yoni meets at the mid-point of the Damaru, and the destruction takes place when both separate from each other.

ARDHANARISHVARA: 

                    The two triangular shapes, seen togther from the sides also explain the Ardhanarishwara concept and admixture of Linga-yoni and non-duality. Indeed the Shatkona, ‘six pointed star’ is formed by two interlocking triangles, the upper one representing Siva's transcendent Being, and the lower one Siva's manifest energy, Shakti. This shatkona is also part of Lord Karttikeya's yantra where Skanda is known as Ardhanarishvara Karttikeya.

KUNDALINI: 

                  Damaru is a balanced cosmic music. Siva is inseparable from His Shakti and therefore Mahadeva is genderless. Siva the ida - feminine and the pingala- masculine nadis. Nadis are psychic nerve currents are balanced so that sushumna is ever active. The sadhak who balances these through sadhana and yoga becomes like Siva. In the unity of Ardhanarishvara all opposites are reconciled; duality vanishes back into the one source.