- Dollu
-
Contents
Meaning
Dollu is a musical instrument similar to musical drums but several times bigger and heavier.
Make
'Dollu' is made of either sheep or goats skin. It is fit tightly to a frame made of honne or mango tree wood. Dollu Kunitha is popular with the Kuruba Gowdas of 'Beereshwara Sampradaya'. The size and weight of the instrument necessitates that only men carry it and perform.
Origins
A story traces the origin of 'Dollu' to the divine couple Shiva and Parvathi. To kill time Shiva and Parvathi played games. They bet as well. The bet was that the loser was to leave Kailasa to live anonymously in 'Bhuloka'(Earth), Shiva loses and to keep to the bet, he moved into a cave in Bhuloka and stayed there in the form of a stone. 'Mayamurthi' Shiva's ardent loyalist guards the cave. As years pass by, Parvathi fed up of managing the universe sends 'Vayu' in search of Shiva but in vain. But Narada locates the cave, kills Mayamurthi and forces 'Shiva' to return to Kailasa.Shiva unwilling to leave behind the dead body of his trusted and beloved guard, makes Dollu out of the dead body and carries it to Kailasa! Hence 'Dollu' is popular among Shaivites.
External links
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.