Taus (instrument)

Taus or mayuri veena
	Taus or mayuri veena
Other names	Mayuri veena
Classification	Bowed string instrument
Related instruments
	Sarinda; Sarangi; Dilruba/esraj;

The taus, originally known as the mayuri veena,^[1] is a bowed string instrument from North India. It is a form of veena used in North India with a peacock-shaped resonator called a mayuri, and is played with the neck of the instrument on bow.^[2] Some versions have Sympathetic Strings that go to the Headstock like a Dilruba so they're known as the Mayuri Dilruba.

References to the mayuri veena have been found in Malavikagnimitra,^[3] written by the Sanskrit poet Kalidasa between the 4th to 5th centuries CE.^[4] The name taus is a Persian translation of the word 'peacock', or mayura in Sanskrit.^[5]

It is believed that the taus was being played and adopted by for the Sikhs by Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs.

^ Edgerly, Beatrice (1942). From the Hunter's Bow: The History and Romance of Musical Instruments. G.P. Putnam's Sons.
^ Chib, Satyendra Krishen Sen (2004). Companion to North Indian Classical Music. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 978-81-215-1090-5.
^ Bhagyalekshmy, S. (1991). Lakshanagrandhas in Music. CBH Publications. ISBN 978-81-85381-13-8.
^ "Kalidas". www.cs.colostate.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
^ Kasliwal, Suneera (2001). Classical Musical Instruments. Rupa. ISBN 978-81-291-0425-0.

[1] Edgerly, Beatrice (1942). From the Hunter's Bow: The History and Romance of Musical Instruments. G.P. Putnam's Sons.

[2] Chib, Satyendra Krishen Sen (2004). Companion to North Indian Classical Music. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 978-81-215-1090-5.

[3] Bhagyalekshmy, S. (1991). Lakshanagrandhas in Music. CBH Publications. ISBN 978-81-85381-13-8.

[4] "Kalidas". www.cs.colostate.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-26.

[5] Kasliwal, Suneera (2001). Classical Musical Instruments. Rupa. ISBN 978-81-291-0425-0.

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