A tala literally means a 'clap, tapping one's hand on one's arm, a musical measure'. It is the term used in Indian classical music similar to musical meter, that is any rhythmic beat or strike that me
Tala refers to musical meter in classical Indian music. Above: a musician using small cymbals to set the tala.
Painting depicting the Vedic sage-musician Narada, with a tala instrument in his left hand
Five Gandharvas (celestial musicians) from 4th–5th century CE, northwest Indian subcontinent, carrying the four types of musical instruments. Gandharvas are discussed in Vedic era literature.
Syama Sastri or Shyama Shastri was a musician and composer of Carnatic music. He was the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar being the other two.
Tanjore style Carnatic tambura