The mridangam is a percussion instrument used in carnatic music, the form of music from South India. Mridangams are referred to in many scriptures of India. It is said that this was one of the instruments that formed a part of the entertainment for Gods.
Mridangams are usually played by men. There are very few female mridangam players even in the modern times.
Many people usually get confused regarding the mridangam and the tabla. The major differences are the genre of music and the structure of the two. Tabla is played as an accompaniment for Hindustani music and Mridangam is played with Carnatic music. Both the instruments have the variation of membranes.
