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Home > Kerala Temples > Musical Instruments > Valia paani or Marappaani or Maram Valia paani or Marappaani or MaramValia paani or Marappaani or MaramValia paani (Maram) is a sacred instrument used only for special rites in temples like prathishta kalasa ashta-bandha-kalasa, Thathwa-kalasa, Brahma-kalasa, Vijaya-bali, kaumaara-bali and Durga-bali. It is made up of the heart wood of jack wood, especially of varikka plaavu variety, taken from the tree standing at the temple complex. The tun of the drum is 16 angulams in length and 8 angulams in diameter (or 12 angulams in length and 6 angulams in diameter) and its shape is round and on either side covered with pieces of tanned leather of cow or of bull-calf. Two hooks are provided on either side for tying a cloth so that the instrument rests either on the shoulder or wrist of the artist while beating it. It is beaten with palms. Further before beating the paani it is essential that the artist should change the cloth of the paani and have a koti-vasthra (unbleached new cloth) is used. The leather on either side has to be rubbed with the paste of haviss (fresh boiled rice) for smoothness. The sound produced by the paani is thath-thwam-asi. Equally important is the role of the artist who beats the paani or maram or marappaani. He has to observe vratha for atleast three days and as far as possible stay in the temple premises from the previous day. Prior to commencement of drumming the paani he has to take bath, wear dhothi similar to that of Thanthri and put sandal paste, bhasma etc on the forehead, chest etc. then he should worship the deity and seek his/her blessings followed by getting permission from the Thanthri as well as the Yajamaana (or Administrator) of the temple for playing the instrument. The marappaani is drummed in front of kutthuvilakk (pedestal lamp) and subjected to pooja also in certain occasions. Thus it can be seen that marappaani is given an honoured place among the percussion instruments. The drumming of marappaani consist of two types Vaishnava and Saiva. They are also known as atacchu kottal and thurannu kottal respectively. The latter type of drumming is almost extinct as its laya-prayoga is cumbersome and has to be performed more diligently. The oblations by the thanthri to Devathas and Ganas have necessarily to be done as per the thaala of the marappaani. It is supposed that any deviation will make the Devathas / Ganas infuriated, and that their wrath will fall on both the Thanthri and the drummer. The Saiva-paani (thurannu-kottal) is not followed now a days as there are few artists who can drum accordingly or fewer Thanthris who can offer bali to Ganas based on the sounds produced from the paani. Any flaw in bali has great consequences, even death of the Thanthri. On the other hand the way of drumming,known as atacchu-kottal or murikki-kottal (Vaishnava-paani), is generally followed, as it is found that in flaw in beating the paani may bring only lesser adversities.
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