● Instrument Reference · Desk-Verified Dossier
Mizhavu Copper Pot Drum
മിഴാവ്Large hammered-copper spherical temple drum covered with calfskin parchment, played barehanded inside Kerala's Koothambalam halls for Koodiyattam.
Classification
Instrument
Origin / Scope
India
Connected Rooms
1 Tradition
Bibliography
1 Source
Archival note & context
Seated within a carved wooden panjaram cage at the back of the Koothambalam stage, the mizhavu is consecrated as a sacred ritual actor in its own right.
Played exclusively by members of the Ambalavasi Nambiar lineage, its ringing metallic timbre sustains the slow cadence of Sanskrit drama.
Used in traditions
1Sources
1What’s on this page is sourced from the citation below.
| Source | Publisher | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre — UNESCO Masterpieces Dossier | UNESCO ICH, 2008 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |