<p>The book studies the evolution of the ancient drum <i>m¿da¿ga </i>into the <i>pakhavaj</i> crossing more than 2000 years of history. While focusing on the Nathdwara school of <i>pakhavaj</i> the author joins ethnographic historical religious and iconographic perspectives to argue a multifaceted interpretation of the role and function of the <i>pakhavaj </i>in royal courts temples and contemporary stages. Furthermore he offers the first analysis of the visual and narrative contents of its repertoire. </p>