That instrument was the Yazh!
Today, we’re learning to play all kinds of foreign musical instruments such as the guitar, violin, and piano.
But would you believe it if I told you that thousands of years ago, there existed in Tamil land a marvel of scientific design that captivated the world with its music?
That instrument was the Yazh!
In Sangam literature, especially in works such as Purananuru and Akananuru, there are hundreds of references to the Yazh. This was no ordinary string instrument. It is said that its sound resembled the voices of celestial beings.
Consider the science behind it. Our ancestors did not simply attach strings to a piece of wood. They had precise calculations for every type of Yazh—such as the Periyazh, Siriyazh, and Sakodayazh—including the number of strings, the thickness of those strings, and the type of wood from which the instrument should be made.
Do you know what makes it even more remarkable? Some studies suggest that the vibrations produced by a Yazh could reduce stress and even possess healing qualities. In a sense, this was the “sound therapy” of ancient times.
But what is the situation today?
It is difficult even to see this magnificent instrument in museums. It has become an almost completely vanished art form. As instruments such as the veena and sitar became more widespread, and because proper documentation was lacking, we gradually lost touch with this part of our own identity.
The descendants of a people who once taught music to the world now spend thousands to learn the guitar. Yet few people know anything about the divine instrument crafted by our ancestors.
What do you think about this great loss to Tamil heritage?
What other aspects of our traditional heritage do you think we have lost?
Translation by Hari
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