A usage of the instrument similar to that described by Nagaraj is found in Tamil.

From the Tamil Lexicon:

நகராமண்டபம் nakarā-maṇṭapam

, n. < நகரா +. Kettle-drum stations established by Tirumalai Naik along the road from Šrīvilliputtūr to his palace at Madura for announcing the completion of the worship of the Goddess at Šrīvilliputtūr, after which he would take his food; ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர் நாய்ச்சி யாருக்கு ஆராதனை முடிந்தபின் உண்பது என்ற விரத முடைமையால் அதனை யறிவித்தற்காக அவ்வூரிலிருந்து மதுரைவரை நகராமூலம் செய்தி அறிவிக்குமாறு வழி நெடுகத் திருமலைநாயகரால் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மண் டபங்கள்.

The TL says Tamil nakarā (kettle drum) is an Arabic word (naqqāra) borrowed through Urdu. George

On Oct 26, 2016, at 7:15 PM, Nagaraj Paturi <nagarajpaturi@gmail.com> wrote:

It is used in some Indian languages like Telugu in the form of nagaaraa.

It is a drum only. It is a big/huge D shaped drum with the curve part of the D shape downwards. The top part is the sounding part. Made to sound with the help of two very big sticks.

Not a 'musical instrument' though. It was used on the terraces of fort entrances its sound indicating several different announcements: exits and entries of kings, victories of kings, beginnings of events in the fort etc.

On Thu, Oct 27, 2016 at 3:24 AM, Greg Bailey <Greg.Bailey@latrobe.edu.au> wrote:

Dear List,

A colleague who is not a member of the list asked about the meaning of the word n?gar??  Any help would be appreciated. I assume it might come from nagara, but to may relate to a musical instrument.

Thanks in advance,

Greg Bailey

"Is naagaraa a Sanskrit word? Is it used in any Sanskrit source? I cann't find it in either Monnier-Williams or Macdonnel.

Curt Sachs reports it as a cognate for Urdu naqqaara (kettledrum) in his 1917 catalogue (in German) of musical instruments in Burma and Assam. I think he is mistaken."

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--

Nagaraj Paturi

 

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.

 

Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies

 

FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of  Liberal Education,

 

(Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA )

 

 

 

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