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#darbarfestival | Bhai Baldeep Singh, a 13th-generation Sikh devotional musician, explains the history of the taus (or mayuri veena) - India’s ‘peacock’ string instrument.
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The taus is a string instrument played with a bow and gets its name from the Persian word for “peacock”. In India, it is also known as the Mayuri Veena and again, “mayur” is the Hindi word for “peacock”.

An instrument associated with North and central India, the taus generally has very specific connections with the Punjab, in particular with the Sikhs, whose 6th Guru, Har Gobind, (1595 – 1694) is said by some to have been directly responsible for the invention of the instrument. But others argue it was the work of the 10th Guru, Gobind Singh, (1666 – 1708) who was also a master and poet of the Persian language and as such, is more likely to have given a Persian name to an instrument he had invented. Yet others maintain that it was another very similar instrument, known as dilruba, (also played with a bow and named after a Persian word meaning “one who captures the heart”), which was the work of the 10th Guru and that its invention was directly inspired by the earlier taus, in an effort to produce something that was lighter in weight and much easier to carry by warriors on the move. But most people agree that both the taus as well as dilruba were the work of the 10th Guru, Gobind Singh.

The taus produces a unique, deeply resonant and mellow kind of sound, particularly in the lower octaves, owing to its large sound-chamber which is shaped like a peacock. It is said to have the most beautifully moving and evocative sound of all the instruments that fall roughly into the same category, (that is, string instruments played with a bow.)

A popular instrument in the Punjab during the 17th and early 18th Centuries, the taus all but disappeared from Indian music until very recently when individual Sikh musicians sought to resurrect it as a melodic accompaniment for Sikh devotional music, known as “shabad-kirtan”, (literally, “singing the word”) whereby mystical verse from the Sikh scriptures known as the Guru Granth Sahib are sung as a central ritual of the Sikh religion, set to specifically prescribed North Indian classical raags. Although there are now growing numbers of Sikh musicians who have taken up the instrument, and many also play mainstream classical raags that may not be associated with shabad-kirtan, the taus is now extremely rare outside of Sikh temples and none of its exponents are particularly well known outside of their spiritual communities. Even so, an internet search will often lead to a fair number of Indian classical music recitals on the taus by Sikh devotional musicians like Ranbir Singh – one of its leading teachers.

Text: Jameela Siddiqi for the V&A

Bhai Baldeep Singh is a 13th-generation Sikh vocalist who also plays the taus, jori, and pakhawaj. He abandoned a career in aviation and aircraft design to pursue music full-time, eventually mastering several different approaches to Gurbani Kirtan (Sikh spiritual music). He has performed and lectured widely, as well as composing poetry, working on archival projects, and designing four new bows for the taus. His Anad Foundation seeks to preserve the sound of rare Indian instruments. Hear more of Bhai here:
-Jaijaiwanti | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a-5PwX0OmM
-Shabad Mooli Dharti Moulia Akaas | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71bmvpD6E94
-Saranda Interview | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=363EoqlW7T0

The video is part of ‘Musical Wonders of India’ curated by Darbar and the V&A Museum in London. View the full online exhibition at http://www.darbar.org/wonders & http://www.vam.ac.uk/musicalwonders. Special thanks to the exhibition’s donors: Arumugam Raveendran, Charu Shahane, Late Charanjit (Kugi) Vohra, The Helen Hamlyn Trust, Jagdeep Shah, Mohinder Virdee, Nishant Bhaskar, Nomadic Dairy, Ranbir Attwal, Sandeep Kandola, Satish & Divya Jeram, Seetal Mann, Sreecumaar, and Sandeep Virdee.

Darbar believes in the power of Indian classical arts to stir, thrill and inspire. Through shared experiences and digital connectivity we ensure that one of the world’s finest art forms reaches the widest possible audience. Founded in 2006, we deliver premium quality live events, music education, broadcasts and online engagement through promoting artistic innovation and creative technology. We are also committed to providing a platform for new talent from India and the UK.

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