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Home > Kerala Temples > Musical Instruments > ltayka (Edayka) ltayka (Edayka)ltayka (Edayka)Itayka, the most sacred percussion instrument, symbolizes vedas, saasthras, and kalaas (art forms). It is modelled in the shape of katunthuti (dhakka) held in the hand of Lord Nataraja (Lord Siva in dancing posture). It is a type of wooden drum made up of heart-wood of raktha-chandanam, karingaali or young varikkaplaavu (a variety of Jackwood). The tun of the drum has a length of 8 angulams and diameter of 4.5 angulams. The central Portion has lesser diameter and the sides are hollow of about 3 angulams in diameter. Then on either side of the face of the drum two small copper nails are fixed. The fibre of palm or string of Veena is tied fast in between the nails on either side and at the centre of the tun of the drum a small hole is made of one fourth angulam in diameter. Then fine leather of the inner lining of the stomach of goat (called chovv in Malayalam) is firmly fixed with gum on two separate rings made up of jackwood or Aanjili which have 2 angulams more diameter than the diameter of the tun. Six holes are then made on the rings at equal length. Then these rings are firmly fixed to the sides of the drum by using white thick cotton threads of about 6 metres. In between the tied up strings of the tun of the drum four life-sticks known as (jeeva-koles) are kept. Each jeeva-kole made of Aanjili or Paala wood is cylindrical in shape and artistically made with projected central part either side having grooves on either side for easy rolling of thread. Then woollen multi-coloured thread balls are suspended on each jeeva-kole taking the total to 64. (Of late it is seen that only 32 balls are fixed ie 8 each in one jeeva-kole). At the centre of the drum a satin cloth of one angulam breadth is fixed to facilitate holding the Itayka by hand by the artist while playing it. Similarly a long silk ribbon of 1.5 angulams breadth is tied to the ends of Itayka for suspending the Itayka in the left shoulder of the artist. The drum-stick with a length of 8 angulams and about one fourth angulam thickness and in curved shape at its one end, is made up of wood of chappangam, puli (tamarind), mandaaram or chaanal. The four life-sticks (Jeeva-koles) the 64 woollen balls and the six holes made on the faces of the Itayka symbolizes four Vedas, sixty four kalas (art forms) and six Saasthras respectively. Thus Itayka is the most revered instrument and considering its sanctity it has always to be suspended, except at the time of use, on the outer wall of the sreekovil and should not, at any case be placed on the ground. Itayka produces a delightful musical symphony and is used as the main instrument of sopaana-sangeetha (kottippattu-seva). It is to be taken note of that the sound and the way in which this instrument is played are different from thuti and utukk.
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