|Apsaras in Bangkok Palace
I took this picture of Kinnara in Bangkok Palace
Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 15,652
Date uploaded in London –24 April 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
Kinnari in Rameswaram; from my H Shastry’s 100 year old book.
Hindu Musicians in China
In 581 CE, at the invitation of then Chinese emperor, many Indian musicians went to China. Sujiva, an expert vina (VEENAA) player adorned the royal court of China in the period between 560 and 578 CE; he used to train the music lovers of China in the modes of Indian ragas (raagaas). Ancient Chinese manuscripts testify to their familiarity with the seven swaras, graamas, muurchanaas etc of the Indian system. According to some, the musical notes of China have been modelled on those of India. At least three Chinese notes correspond to the three swaras called Sadja Rsabha and Panchama.
Japan
According to ancient Japanese tradition, two chief types of music, called Bodhisattva and Bhairo were imported from China to Japan by an Indian Brahmin, named Bodhi. Bodhisattva is an Indian name. Bairo seems to have been derived from the Indian raga bhairava, which is still called Bhairo in Hindi.
Of the far eastern countries , Java, Bali, Sumatra and Cambodia actively cultivated Indian music.
Some songs of Tibet, particularly those of the devotional character, appears to have elements in imitations of Vedic saaman (Saama Veda) songs.
Musical instruments like the harp which resemble the Indian vina, were borrowed from India by such ancient lands as Greece, Egypt and Alexandria.
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Hindu and Greek Music
There are noteworthy parallelisms between the Indian and Greek systems of music. For example, the two earliest scales of Greece called Mixolydic and Doric resemble early Indian scales. Pythagoras scheme of cycle of the fifth and the cycle of fourth in musical system corresponding to the sadja Panchama and the sadja -madhyama- bhava-s of the Naaatya shaastra. It may be mentioned that the ancient Greek writers claim that the greater part of their music was borrowed from Asia. Among others, Strabo holds this view. Aristotle’s description of a lyre reminds one of the Hindu Ekatantri vina. Curt Sachs holds that the south Indian drum tambattam தம்பட்டம், was known in Babylonia in the name of timbutu. According to him, the Hindu kinnari was king David’s kinnor.
The Arabian writer, Jahiz tells us that Indian music was popular in the Abbasid court. The Arabic magma iqa appears to be Persian rendering of the Indian melodic rhythmic system. Yehudi Menuhin is sure that some elements of Indian music became the mainstay of Arabic music.
(Suresh Chandra Banerji has given the above details in an article published in the Ludwik Sternbach Felicitation Volume, Part two, published by Akhila Bharatiya Sanskrit Parishad, Lucknow, 1979)
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Tom Tom தம்பட்டம்
English words Drum, Tom Tom and Tamil words Tamukku, Damaaram தம்பட்டம் are derived from the Sanskrit word Damaruka of Lord Siva.
A tom-tom is a cylindrical, small-headed drum (often used in drum kits) played with hands or sticks. It also refers to a monotonous beating sound, or traditionally a signalling drum. As a brand, TomTom is a Dutch company specializing in GPS navigation systems, traffic flow analysis, and mapping technology.
Merriam-Webster +6
Usage Examples & Synonyms
- Drum (noun): “The drummer played a fast rhythm on the tom-toms and cymbals”. Synonyms: drum, tom, tabor, tam-tam.
- Sound (noun): “The incessant tom-tom of the drums in the distance”. Synonyms: drumming, beat, tapping, reverberation.
- Navigation (Proper Noun): “I used my TomTom to navigate through London”. Synonyms: GPS, SatNav, navigator.
- Informal Verb (dated): To tomtom news (to spread gossip quickly).
Cambridge Dictionary +4
Key Contexts
- Music: A “tom” is a drum without snares in a drum kit.
- Navigation: TomTom offers services like live traffic flow updates, speed camera alerts, and route planning.
- Origin: The term is believed to be of Hindi/imitative origin (ṭamṭam).
தமுக்கு / டமருகம் (சம்ஸ்க்ருதம்) டாம் டாம் ,தம்பட்டம்
ட்ரம் என்னும் ஆங்கிலச் சொல்லும், டமாரம் , தமருகம், தமுக்கு, தம்பட்டம் என்ற தமிழ்ச் சொற்களும் சம்ஸ்க்ருத டமருகம் என்ற சொல்லிலிருந்து பிறந்தன . டமருகம் என்ற சொல் பாகவதம், சிவபுராணம் முதலிய நூல்களில் உள்ளது
தமுக்கு என்பது மக்களுக்குத் தகவல்களை அறிவிக்க, முக்கியமாக கிராமப்புறங்களில் செய்தி தெரிவிக்கப் பயன்படும் ஒரு பழமையான, வட்ட வடிவத் தமிழரின் இசைக்கருவி (பறை வகை) ஆகும். இது அரசாங்க அறிவிப்புகள், கோயில் திருவிழாக்கள் மற்றும் பொது அறிவிப்புகளுக்கு முன் முழக்கப்படும். இது ‘தமுக்கு’ அல்லது ‘தமருகம்’ என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகிறது
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Greeks copied from Hindu literature!
Greeks Centaur and Chiron are Kinnaras. They are depicted in the same way as Hindu books.
Centaurs are described as wild monsters, generally pictures as a combination of man and horse, dwelling on mount Pelion in Thessaly, having an inherent primitive attraction on account of their human lusts for wine and sexuality.
Centaur is the corrupted form Sanskrit Gandharva.
Chiron is the king of centaurs. Chiron is the corrupted form of kinnara. Chiron was the gentlest and wisest of the centaurs who instructed many heroes of the Grecian tradition in the arts of music, prophesy, healing and hunting. He gave up his immortality to Prometheus, and was placed among the stars as Sagittarius . Heroes like Jason and Achilles were in their youth, pupils of the wise centaur Chiron, who taught them about medicinal herbs. He discovered a herb with medicinal properties and the herb is called centaury.
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Kinnara in the Bible
In 2012, I wrote the following under Sanskrit in Bible article; it is in my blogs:
Kinnar: Kinnaras are celestial musicians according to Sanskrit literature. The Bible mentions Kinnor 47 times to mention a stringed musical instrument. Even today the Malayalees in south India use this word for musical instruments which is a pure Sanskrit word. It is similar to Greek lyre. Sometimes called David’s Harp, the Kinnor is not a true harp. Sangam Tamil literature is of full of praise for the Yaz (lyre or harp).
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From wisdomlib.org
Kinnara (किन्नर), like Yakṣas, are the attendants of Kubera. They are represented as mythical beings with a human figure and the head of a horse or with a horse’s body and the head of a man. They are described as celestial choristers and musicians who dwell in the paradise of Kuvera on Kailāsa. They are called Aśvamukhas, Turaṅgavaktras, “horse-faced” and Mayus.
2) [=kiṃ-nara] [from kiṃ > kim] b m. ‘what sort of man?’ a mythical being with a human figure and the head of a horse (or with a horse’s body and the head of a man, [Śiśupāla-vadha iv, 38]; originally perhaps a kind of monkey cf. vā-nara; in later times (like the Naras) reckoned among the Gandharvas or celestial choristers, and celebrated as musicians; also attached to the service of Kubera.
Centaur/Gandarva in Greece
Kinnara in Tamil Sangam Literature
In 2000 year old Perumpanatruppadai , a Sangam Tamil book, written by Brahmin Poet Mr Rudraksha (in Tamil uruththiran kannanaar) Kinnaram figures in line 494. The same author has written another Sangam book Pattinappaalai .
கின்னரம் – பெரும்பாணாற்றுப்படை , உருத்திரங்கண்ணனார். ருத்ரனின் மகன் கண்ணன் என்றும் திரு. ருத்ராக்ஷம் என்றும் பொருள் கொள்ளலாம்.
His name may also mean Kannan, son of Rudra according to commentators.
In Tamil literature Kinnaras are celestial beings known as divine musicians and singers, often depicted as half-human and half-bird (or sometimes half-horse). While primarily found in Sanskrit and Buddhist texts, they are integrated into Tamil-Nadu traditional lore and religious contexts, appearing in the Nalayira Divyaprabandham and as attendants of Kubera.
In the Mahabharata (Adi Parva), they are described as eternal lovers who are always paired (male Kinnara and female Kinnari), never separating, and known for their deep devotion and perpetual pleasure.
They are associated with the Gandharvas and Apsaras as a class of demigods known for their ability to play music and sing.
Iconography in Tamil Temples: Sculptures of Kinnaras playing musical instruments can be found in Tamil Nadu, such as at the Srirangam Sri Venu Gopala Swamy temple.
Kinnara and the Kinnari Vina: They are closely associated with an ancient stringed instrument called the Kinnari Veena, which is still used as a folk instrument in parts of South India.
Divine Helpers: In Buddhist texts (such as the Jataka tales), they are depicted as compassionate beings living in the Himalayas (Himavanta), who sometimes help humans.
In modern contexts, the Indian transgender (Hijra) community uses the term “Kinnar” to refer to themselves, taking inspiration from these androgynous, gender-fluid celestial beings praised in Hindu scriptures.
Kinnaran/Chiron in Greece
Kinnaras are portrayed in Buddhist temples with wings like a bird. Golden coloured Kinnaras are in Bangkok Palce in Thailand (See picture taken by London swaminathan in March 2026)
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Kinnaras in Kalidasa’s works
In the works of the ancient Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa, Kinnaras are depicted as celestial, demi-god musicians dwelling in the Himalayas, frequently mentioned in the context of their haunting music and the scenic beauty of the mountains. They are often described as attendants of Kubera, the god of wealth, residing on Mount Kailāsa.
Kumarasambhava: Kālidāsa describes the Kinnaras in the Himalayas, where they act as celestial musicians. In the poem, winds blowing through bamboo caverns are depicted as producing a drone note for the Kinnaras to sing along with.
They are portrayed as innocent, harmless beings fond of music and dancing.
While sometimes generally described as half-bird/half-human or half-horse/half-human, the text sometimes highlights the “kimpuruṣa women” who have a human body and a horse’s face, adding to the romantic imagery of the Himalayan scenery.
In the Meghaduta (Cloud Messenger), the Kinnaras are referenced in relation to the romantic and, at times, melancholy ambiance of the landscapes the cloud passes over.
Kalhana in Rajatarangini mentioned Kinnara twice in the first chapter.
–subham—
Tags- Kinnara, Thambattam, Tom Tom, Babylonia, Bible, Tamil Music, Greek music, Hindu influence, Kalidasa, Damaruka, Tamukku,
தமிழ் டமாரம் பற்றிய அதிசயச் செய்தி (Post No.6756)
Written by London Swaminathan
swami_48@yahoo.com
Date: 10 AUGUST 2019
British Summer Time uploaded in London – 8-23 am
Post No. 6756
3 Nov 2014 – உலகிலேயே மிகப் பழைய நூல் ரிக் வேதம்— ஜெர்மன் ‘அறிஞர்’ மாக்ஸ் … பூமி துந்துபி: ரிக் வேதம் சொல்லும் அதிசயச் செய்திகள்.
பூமி துந்துபி: ரிக் வேதம் சொல்லும் …
3 Nov 2014 – பூமி துந்துபி: ரிக் வேதம் சொல்லும் அதிசயச் செய்திகள். jaffna. Temple drummer, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. கட்டுரையை எழுதியவர் :– லண்டன் …
Bhumi Dundhubi: Drums in Rig Veda and Sangam Tamil Poems …
2 Nov 2014 – Bhumi Dundhubi: Drums in Rig Veda and Sangam Tamil Poems ….. You don’t even know the way to Post Office; don’t tell me about Heaven!
வேத காலத்தில் ஆடல் பாடல் (Post No.6039 …
6 Feb 2019 – வேத காலத்தில் ஆடல் பாடல் (Post No.6039). Written by London … பூமி துந்துபி என்னும் ஒரு வாத்தியம் பற்றி வேத இலக்கியங்கள் சொல்லும்.
HINDU AND BUDDHIST WONDERS IN JAPAN (Post No.5118)Compiled by LONDON SWAMINATHAN
Date: 16 JUNE 2018
Time uploaded in London – 18-36 (British Summer Time)
Post No. 5118
–subham–
Tamil and Vedas 
