Panchavadyam is the traditional temple music accompanying processions and pageants. The word 'Panchavadyam' means five musical instruments, as it uses five instruments, Timila, Maddalam, Edakka,
ilathalam, and Kompu. It is a unique musical system in which two or more groups play similar percussion instruments, beginning in a slow tempo and steadily progressing and finally reaching the crescendo.
