A familiar figure in the world of auto drums and bell machines, Basavaraj E Badiger has automated a unique musical instrument that can produce the sounds of 12 instruments at a time.
Apart from this, Badiger has also innovated auto musical machines of three, five, seven and nine vadyas.
Badiger has carved a niche for himself in this field by designing and manufacturing automatic drumming and bell-ringing machines, which are now in operation in thousands of temples in the state.
In fact, he has contributed many auto musical instruments to temples. His innovations are capable of making drum and bell sounds with perfect rhythm.
“It was more like a divine revelation from the almighty Lord Sri Krishna himself,” he says on how he got the idea for these instruments.
He adds, “With Lord’s blessings, today I have made an instrument that consists of 12 vadyas — nagara, bhajan, jagte (jagante), bells, shehnai, sambal, damaru, shankha, kahale, dollu, chitki and gumari vadyas. Once the button is switched on, all the instruments play in rhythm, which can be heard up to a kilometre. There is an option of stopping shanka, kahale and shehnai by putting off the switch keys connected to these instruments.”
“The machine is 7 feet long and weighs around two quintals. It costs around `1.3 lakh. The cover of the body is fully made of stainless steel, with the support of angles and motor fixed on wheels. Even when there is no power, this machine can be used by pulling the liver or handle manually. As it is set on wheels, it can be taken out during procession time,” he adds.
Hailing from Gadag district, 36-year-old Basavaraj is an ITI graduate from Hubli University.
Presently, his auto musical instruments are being used in Durgaparameshwari temple of Vidyaranyapura, Manjunatha temple of Manjunath Nagar, Attibele and Mysore Bank Circle and many temples in Hubli, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Tumkur, Sirsi and Kumta.