Taus (instrument)


The Taus is a bowed string instrument from the north Indian region of Punjab. The taus was invented by Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs. The Taus was later modified into the lighter Dilruba by Guru Gobind Singh. It has a peacock body and neck with 20 heavy metal frets. The neck consists of a long wooden rack with 28-30 strings and is played with a bow.

Relation to Dilruba/Esraj

The Dilruba originates from the taus and is the creation of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Dilruba was designed to be a compact version of the Taus, making it more convenient for the Sikh army to carry on horseback. The Esraj is a modern variant of the Dilruba.