Bharata, the ancient dramaturgist and musicologist in his
Natyashastra, made a four-fold classification of musical instruments into tata
(stringed), sushira (wind), avanaddha (covered or fastened) and ghana (solid). The
Sanskrit term avanaddham means a drum.
Vedic literature contains references to crude earthern and
wooden drums covered with the hide or skin of wild animals. The pushkara,
mridanga and bhanda vadya of later times and the modern pakhavaj and khol have
evolved from the dundubhi of Vedic times.
The early Sangam text, Silappadikaram (2nd
century CE) assigns a prominent place to the drummer, as one who enhances the
appeal of vocal music. The Ramayana of the Tamil poet Kamban, also talks of
several ancient musical instruments including drums like bheri, damaru, jharjhari,
jhalli and maddala.