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[[File:ഓണവില്ല് ഉപയോഗിച്ചുള്ള പാട്ട്൧.resized.jpg|thumb]]
[[Image:Onavillu.jpg|thumb|300px|Onavillu decorated with painting of Lord Padmanabha (top) and Krishnaleela (bottom)]]
An '''onavillu''' is a simple, short, bow-shaped musical instrument. Its name may come from ''[[Onam]]'', a festival in [[Kerala]] where the instrument is used in dances, and ''villu'', which means 'bow' in [[Malayalam]] (and several other South Indian languages). Although still regularly used in rural art forms, use of the onavillu is on the decline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india9.com/i9show/Onavillu-44231.htm|title=Onavillu in India|website=India9.com|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

''Onavillu'' also refers to flat, tapered wooden artifacts decorated with tassels and used in ceremonies of devotion to [[Lord Vishnu]].

==Instrument==
[[File:ഓണവില്ല്.jpg|thumb]]
The onavillu that accompanies the [[Kummattikali]] and other folk dances is a Keralite string instrument made from the pith of the [[Borassus|palmyra]] stem, or from [[bamboo]], shaped as a bow. Bamboo slivers are used for bowstrings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/video-gallery|title=Video gallery - Videos on Kerala|website=Keralatourism.org|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> The bow strings sound when struck with a thin stick, the size of a pencil. The sound can be varied through finger pressure on the string.

==Ceremonial bow==
The ceremonial onavillu, which is not a musical instrument, is made from a flat piece of wood 1/2 inch thick, tapering on both sides. Sizes range from 3.5 feet by 4 inches to 4.5 feet by 6 inches. The wood of kadambu, maruthu, [[jack fruit]], and aanjili trees are preferred (See [[List of Indian timber trees]]). The wood is cut to the required dimension before being decorated with miniature paintings of Anantha Sayanam (reclining pose of Lord Vishnu) and avatars Dasavatharam, Shri [[Rama]] Pattabhishekam and Shri [[Krishna Janmashtami#Krishna-Leela|Krishna Leela]]. Ashari family residing near Pujapura Trivandrum are the right to make the red tassels used to adorn the bows.<ref>[http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Tradition%20keeps%20its%20date&artid=eBDPqtrysBU=&type=] {{dead link|date=April 2021}}</ref>

The making of the ceremonial bows is the preserve of a local family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiavideo.org/kerala/festival/onavillu-the-ceremonial-bows-112.php|title=Onavillu: the ceremonial bows, India, Kerala Videos|website=Indiavideo.org|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

===Legend===
According to legend, when King [[Mahabali]] was being pushed into the earth by [[Vamana]], Lord Vishnu appeared before him. King Mahabali asked that each year he could be allowed to visit his native land and to see the Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu granted him the boon, but said that the King would be able to see him and his avatars only as painted images. Lord [[Vishvakarman]] was ordered to paint images of Dasavatharam on pieces of kadambu wood. This was the origin of the onavillu, which is put on display every year for King Mahabali to see.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianet.in/|title=Asianet-Breaking News |Kerala Local News |Kerala Latest News | Kerala Breaking News|News|website=Asianet.in|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

===Ceremonial use==
On Thiruvonam day, the birthday of Lord [[Maha Vishnu]], large number of devotees visit the [[Padmanabhaswamy temple|Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], [[India]] to take part in the ''onavillu charthal'', the dedication ceremony of the colourful bows. The temple is one of the 108 sacred temples dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu. The bows are first offered to the family deity at the Vilayil Veedu, Karamana for three days. They are then taken to Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple on Thiru Onam day and displayed at the Natakasala before being offered to the deity.

The Anantha Sayanam version of the villu is consecrated to Lord Padmanabha (Vishnu); the one with the Dasavathram painting is offered to Lord [[Narasimha]]; the one showing the Krishna-leela is dedicated to Lord Krishna; the one with the painting of Shri Rama Pattabhishekam is consecrated to the idol of Shri Rama.

The onavillu are removed on the third day. The Temple Trust distributes the onavillu to devotees, who consider them a symbol of prosperity.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080713030903/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/20/stories/2007082057280800.htm] </ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Strings (music)}}

[[Category:Indian musical instruments]]
[[Category:Musical bows]]
[[Category:Ceremonial weapons]]

Onavillu - Revision history

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