Mardala Players

Mardala () is a classical percussive instrument native to the east Indian state of Odisha, traditionally used as the primary accompaniment in Odissi classical music. The instrument is different from other instruments that might have similar names in the Indian subcontinent due to its unique construction, acoustic features and traditional playing technique.

The Mardala is used in a wide range of traditional art forms of Odisha, including Gotipua, Mahari, Odissi dance, Bhagabata Tungi, Sakhi Nata, Prahallada Nataka, Ramalila, Krusnalila, Rama Nataka, Sahi Jata, Medha Nacha, Bharata Lila, Bhutakeli Nata, Odisi Kirtana and more.

History

Odishan musicologists in ancient treatises have mentioned four distinct kinds of instruments or ''vadyas'' : ''tat'' or stringed instruments, ''susira'' or wind instruments, ''anaddha'' or leather instruments / drums & finally ''ghana'' or metallic instruments.

Out of these four, the Mardala falls under the category of ''anaddha vadya''s or drums. Raghunatha Ratha, an ancient musicologist of Odisha extols the Mardala in his treatise, the '' Natya Manorama'' as:

The Jagannatha temple of Puri has for centuries had a Mardala servitor. This was known as the 'Madeli Seba' and the percussionist was ritually initiated into the temple by the Gajapati ruler. The Mardala used to be the accompanying instrument to the Mahari dance, the ancestor of present-day Odissi dance, one of the major classical dance forms of India.

In hundreds of Kalingan temples across the state of Odisha, including famous shrines such as Mukteswara and Konarka, the Mardala features prominently, usually in a niche of an ''alasakanya'' playing the instrument. There is a pose by the name ''mardalika'' replicating the same stance in Odissi dance.

Construction

Wood

All woods are not suitable for constructing the Mardala. According to treatises, the ideal Mardala is made of ''khadira'' (''khaira'') or the wood of ''Acacia catechu''. The wood of ''raktachandana'' is also spoken of highly owing to its deep resonance. Other woods such as ''nimba'', ''mahalimba'' and ''gambhari'' are also used. An instrument fashioned from the aforesaid woods is considered ''uttama'', whereas an instrument made from the wood of jackfruit is considered ''adhama''.

Measurements

''Natya Manorama'' ordains the Mardala to be about one and a half cubits long. The left face must be between twelve and thirteen ''angula''s and the right face half or one ''angula'' less than the left face.

Making

The process of making a Mardala is described in detail in the ''Natya Manorama.'' The Mardala is thicker at the middle than its ends. A paste called ''kharali'' is applied on the playing face of the Mardala in a round shape. The preparation of ''kharali'' is a time-consuming and delicate process, requiring the ingredients of ''paunsa'' (ash), ''geru'' (red chalk), ''bhata'' (boiled rice), ''chuda'' (flattened rice), ''harida'' (fruit of black myrobalan tree) and sour gruel. This is applied to the right face of the Mardala. The ''purika'' is applied on the left face to produce a pleasant sound. The preparation of the ''purika'' uses ''bhata'' (boiled rice), ''lia'' (blown rice) or ''paunsa'' (ash). Once done, the instrument is sun-dried. Once dried, the paste is reapplied and again sundried, and this process is repeated for at least twelve times before adjudging the ''shruti'' (tone) of the instrument. Then the instrument is tied strongly with ''pata-suta'' or leather strips and ready to be played.

Repertoire and technique

The playing of the Mardala is based on the ''tala-paddhati'' or rhythmic system of Odissi music. A tala is a rhythmic structure in Indian music. The ''tala''s in use in Odissi music are distinctive, and are not found in other systems of Indian music. The playing of the instrument follows a strict classical grammar.

Traditionally, there are ten vital features of tala that are taken care of :

#''kāla'' or beats
#''mārga'' or inter-beat transitions
# kriyā or hand movements
#''anga''
#''graha''
#''jāti''
#''kalā''
#''laya''
#''jati''
#''prastāra''

The kriyas are neither ''nisabda'', that is without-sound or ''sasabda'', with sound. The ''nisabda'' or soundless kriyas are demonstrated by four types of motions ; there is no stroke. The ''sasabda'' or sounded kriyas are created by striking a membrane. Apart from these, there are eight ''desi-kriya''s. The regional terminology used in the Mardala's context are ''kalā, ansā, māna, aḍasā, bhaunri, bhaunri aḍasā, tāli, khāli, phānka, bāṇi, ukuṭa, pāṭa, chhanda, bhangi,'' etc. The ''sabda-swara pata'', a traditional component based on the Mardala's beats was integrated into Odissi dance by Guru Deba Prasad Das.

Though several hundred talas are defined in treatises, some are more common : ''ekatāli, khemaṭā'' or ''jhulā, rūpaka, tripaṭā, jhampā, āḍatāli, jati, āditala, maṭhā''. Other talas that are also used are ''sarimāna,'' ''nihsāri'', ''kuḍuka, aḍḍa, duāḍamāna, upāḍḍa, panchutāla (nabapanchu tala), paḍitāla, pahapaṭa, aṭṭatāla, āṭhatāli'' and ''jagannātha tāla.'' The talas have a characteristic swing that is typical of and universally found in Odissi music. The details of some major talas are listed below.

Padi

An exclusive technique called ''paḍi'' is frequently employed in traditional Odissi songs. This is composed within the fixed prosody of the respective song. The padi is repeated in several different talas, layas and from different matras. Kabichandra Dr. Kali Charan Patnaik calls this feature 'the lifeline of Odissi music'.

Gurus

The Mardala is intimately associated with the Jagannatha temple and thus has a very esteemed position in the culture of Odisha. Many Gurus have worked for carrying forward the legacy of the instrument. Adiguru Singhari Shyamsundar Kar, Guru Banamali Maharana, Guru Padmanabha Panda, Guru Basudeba Khuntia, Guru Mahadeba Rout, Guru Narayana Mahapatra, Guru Banamali Maharana and Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra were among the great Gurus of Mardala in the 20th century.

Guru Rabinarayan Panda, Guru Jayadeba Giri, Guru Janardana Dash, Guru Dhaneswar Swain, Guru Sachidananda Das, Guru Bijaya Kumar Barik, Guru Jagannath Kuanr are among modern-day exponents of the Mardala. Many veteran Gotipua masters have also excelled in the Mardala : Guru Birabara Sahu, Guru Lingaraj Barik, Guru Maguni Das and others.

As a solo instrument

The role of the Mardala as a solo instrument has been presented for the last few decades with great success, apart from its better-known role as an accompaniment in the ensemble for Odissi music and dance. The solo performances follow a specific rule or ''pranali'' : starting with a ''jamana'', then proceeding onto ''chhanda prakarana'', ''ragada'', etc. Guru Dhaneswar Swain, the first solo Mardala player who have presented a solo performance on Mardala under the able guidance of Guru Banamali Maharana at Rabidra Mandap, Bhubaneswar which was very first of its kind.

Training

Two state government institutions impart training in Mardala : Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and Utkal University of Culture. Undergraduate, postgraduate degrees are offered. Many private institutions also impart training. Guru Banamali Maharana had established an institute called 'Mardala Academy' in Bhubaneswar, the state capital. Ramahari Das Odissi Gurukul at Biragobindapur, Sakhigopal also offers training in Mardala under Guru Dhaneswar Swain, who also has his own institute called 'Vadya Vani Gurukul' which specialises in traditional percussion instruments of Odisha. Ensembles of traditional musical instruments of Odisha with the mardala taking the lead have also been conceptualised and executed.

File:Guru Birabara Sahoo Playing Mardala.jpg, Guru Birabara Sahu, veteran Gotipua exponent
File:Guru Basudev Khuntia Playing Mardala.jpg, Guru Basudeba Khuntia
File:Guru Rabi Narayan Panda Playing Mardala 3.png, Guru Rabinarayan Panda
File:Guru Maguni Das Playing Mardala.jpg, Guru Maguni Das, veteran Gotipua exponent
File:Guru Janardan Dash playing Mardala.png, Guru Janardana Dash
File:Guru Niranjan Patra Odissi Mardala.jpg, Guru Niranjan Patra
File:Eminent Odissi Mardala Guru Sachidananda Das.jpg, Guru Sachidananda Das, Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee
File:Guru Bijaya Kumar Barik plays the Odissi Mardala.jpg, Guru Bijaya Kumar Barik
File:Jagannath Kuanr playing Odissi mardala.jpg, Guru Jagannath Kuanr
File:Guru Chintamani Raut Playing Mardala 2.jpg, Guru Chintamani Raut
File:Guru Maheswar Mohapatra playing Mardala 1.jpg, Guru Maheswar Mohapatra
File:Guru Sarat Kumar Samantaray playing Mardala (cropped).jpg, Guru Sarat Kumar Samantaray
File:Guru Dr. Gouranga Charan Mahala Playing Mardala.jpg, Guru Gouranga Charan Mahala
File:Guru Dibakar Parida Playing Mardala.jpg, Guru Dibakar Parida

See also

* Odissi music
* Odissi dance
* Gotipua
* Prahallada Nataka
* Dhaneswar Swain

References

{{Indian musical instruments, state=autocollapse

Indian musical instruments
Odia culture
Odissi music