Question
Why is there a Damaru attached to Lord Shiva’s trishul?
Answer
Shiva is often described as cosmic dancer and a great musician. Shiva's Tandavam is the cosmic dance and his Damaru (a small hourglass shape drum) represent the cosmic sound. It is said in Shiva Mahapurana that
the sounds from the damaru beats the the rhythm of the cosmic vibrations and the energy is activated by the divine Mother or Shakti.
The sound from damaru often is interpreted as the Pranavam and represent the *Shabda Brahma*n. Pranavam or OM is supposed to the precursor to all human languages.1
There's a very beautiful strotam which mimics the sound produced by damaru called Shiva Tandava Strotam by creating a rolling effect. The first couplet is —
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् |
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ||१||
Jatatavee gala jwalapravaha pavitha sthale
Galae..valambya lambitaam bhujanga tunga malikaam
Damad damad damad damanninaadavaddamavaryam
Chakara chandatandavam tanotu naha shivaha shivam.
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