The roots of musical performances in India can be traced back over two millennia, with historical references found in Panini’s grammar and Buddhist scriptures. The renowned Sanskrit grammarian Panini (c. 4th century BCE), in his commentary on nritya (dance), makes a notable mention of composers of sutras on dancing, suggesting a structured tradition of musical and dance performances in ancient India.
Supporting this, the Pali Pitaka—an important Buddhist scripture compiled around 300 BCE—describes an instance where two disciples of Gautama Buddha attended a musical recital, providing one of the earliest literary records of live musical performances.
These mentions offer rare and significant insights into India’s early performance arts, reflecting a rich cultural landscape where music and dance were already systematized, performed publicly, and intertwined with spiritual and educational life.
Experts believe these records indicate a thriving ecosystem of musicians, composers, and audiences, long before the formal codification of music in texts like the Natyashastra. They reaffirm India’s position as one of the oldest continuous traditions of musical performance in the world.
