Mridangam is a classical drum of India and is met with all South Indian music parties, Katha Kalakshepams and Bhajanas. The name literally means "Clay-body", and most probably the shell was originally of clay terracotta. The instrument is played with the two hands, wrists and fingertips. Jati exercises are first learnt vocally and practised on a dummy instrument. Then only the practice on the Mridangam  commences with the mastering of preliminary beats and strokes.

     These two instruments take the place of the Mridangam in Northern and Central India. They are used in Hindustani music parties of North India. The Tabla's head corresponds to the right head of the Mridangam and the Baya's head to the left of the same. The shell of these one-faced drums is either of wood, metal or terracotta.

      It is a huge five-faced metal drum mounted on a special stand or kept in position on a four-wheeled carriage. It is used in temple music. The five faces are named after the five faces of Siva; Sadyojatam, Isanam, Tatpurusham, Aghoram and Vamadevam. The shell is of bronze and from its top emerge five hollow cylinders. These cylinders are covered with skin. The drum heads are all on the same level. (In some  specimens, the central head is at a slightly higher level than the peripheral heads). The diameter of the central face is at a slightly larger than those of the peripheral faces. The instrument is played with both the hands. It is played solo and also in conjunction with the sudda maddalam. The timber resembles that of the Tabla tarang. The pitch of the faces is adjusted by tightening or loosening the squeeze of the skin at the region of the neck and below the rim. Arunagirinathar referred the Panchamukha Vadyam as Kudapanchamukhi. Parasaivas are the privileged class of people who are entitled to perform on it.

    It is a wooden musical instrument played with two wooden mallets. It is a xylophone. Rectangular pieces of wood of decreasing length are mounted on a frame.