Ashtapadi An ashtapadi is an expressive item like a padam, but executed to particular poetry.

Ashtapadi literally means "eight steps", from Sanskrit ashta (eight) and padi (steps), and refers to musical compositions with eight lines, but in Bharatanatyam, it refers12th century compositions by the Indian poet Jayadeva. His Gita Govinda uses the relationship between the gopis (cowgirls) and Lord Krishna to symbolize the eternal love of a devotee for the divine. Jayadevas poetry is well suited to abhinaya. Ashtapadis or Ashtapadi hymns are regular compositions of music in India where there are eight lines (steps) within the composition. Each song of Ashtapadi is set in a special raga and tala. It is a rhyme of eternal love and supreme devotion.The literal meaning of "Ashtapadi" is "eight steps" (The same name is used for Ashtpada, an Indian boardgame,the forerunner of chess). Ashtapadis of 'Gitagovinda' Gita Govinda was composed in the 12th century by Indian poet Jayadeva in Sanskrit language. Gita govindam is a lyrical poetry in twelve chapters, sub-divided into twenty four divisions called Prabandha. The songs in Gita Govinda symbolize the eternal love of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha The Gita Govinda is the best known composition of Jayadeva. It is a lyrical poetry that is organized into twelve chapters. Each chapter is further sub-divided into twenty four divisions called Prabandhas The prabandhas contain couplets grouped into eights, called Ashtapadis. The first English translation of the Gita Govinda was published by Sir William Jones in 1792, were Kalinga (ancient Orissa) is referred to as the origin of the text. Since then, the Gita Govinda has been translated to many languages throughout the world, and is considered to be among the finest examples of Sanskrit poetry. The Gitagovinda consists of twelve chapters, further divided into twenty four songs. Each song consists of eight couplets, it is called Ashtapadi. Chapter one and chapter two, four, five and twelve contain two ashtapadis each; chapters three, six, eight, nine and ten contain only one ashtapadi each. Thus there are twenty-four ashtapadis. These ashtapadis can be set to music in different melodious ragas, which were appreciated and followed by the poets of later period. On which more than hundred commentaries has been written in Sanskrit and over fifty in regional languages in India, also in many foreign languages.

KANJIRA
a small tambourine like instrument with a copper or bronze discs on the frame it has only one skin of goat or lizard held in left hand and struck with fingers and palm of the right hand as an accompanying artist, in concerts the kanira was introduced by Pudukottair Manpunya Pillai (a th famous percussionist of the 19 century). He is credited with developing its playing technique like a European tambourine, it consists of round wooden fram over which a membrane (mostly lizard skin) is stretched after applying a few drops of water, this membrane becomes sufficiently elastic to enable a skilled player to produce distinct pitches and distinct strides or Gumuki 1 or several players of small brass coins or discs produce on additional accents, which can be adjusted to playing position