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Dilruba

For the 2025 film, see Dilruba (film).
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The dilruba (also spelled dilrupa)[1] is a bowed musical instrument originating in India. It is a type of Bowed Sitar that's slightly larger than an esraj and has a larger, square resonance box like a sarangi. The dilruba holds particular importance in Sikh history.

It became more widely known outside India in the 1960s through use in songs by Western artists, such as the Beatles during their psychedelic phase (most notably in the song "Within You Without You").

Etymology

The name of the instrument derives from the Persianized Hindustani word دلربا/दिलरुबा (dilrubā), literally meaning "that which ravishes or steals the heart."[2]

History

The traditional story is that the dilruba was invented around 300 years ago by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who based it on the much older and much heavier taus.[1][3] His innovations made it more convenient for the Sikh army (the khalsa) to carry the instrument on horseback.[4]

There is some doubt in the research community about the truth of the traditional origin story described above.[5] Some traditional kirtan bearers, such as Bhai Avtar Singh Raagi, have clarified the history of the dilruba's creation being tied to the patronage of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and created by Mahant Gajja Singh.[6]

After the introduction of the harmonium to the Indian Subcontinent by the British Raj, the dilruba fell out of use due to its comparatively steeper learning curve. In more recent times, it has had a resurgence, accompanying ragis in the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) since 2006,[5] and becoming more commonly taught within India and around the world.

Construction

The construction of a dilruba is very similar to the sitar with some components of the sarangi. Like the sitar, it has a long neck with about 20 moveable metal frets[7]. It has 4 metal main strings and more than 20 sympathetic strings. Of the main strings, only the leftmost string is played with the bow. [8] The resonator of the instrument, at the bottom, is a hollowed out gourd or carved wood covered with a stretched piece of goatskin, in the style of the sarangi.

Some dilrubas may have a gourd attached to the top of the neck for balance or tone adjustment[9].

To play a dilruba, the musician sits and rests the bottom of the instrument in front of them or in their lap, with the neck resting on the musician's left shoulder [8]. The left hand uses the frets as a guide to modify the pitch of the leftmost string. The bow is held in the right hand.

To produce the portamento or meend that is characteristic of Indian music, the musician moves the left hand up and down the string, rather than stretching the string across the fret like a sitar[10].

References

  1. ^ a b Dutta, Madhumita (2008). Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India. Star Publications. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-1-905863-29-7.
  2. ^ Khalsa, Sukhmandir (4 June 2017). "Dilruba: Ravisher of the Heart". Learning Religions. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. ^ Dharam Singh (2001). Perspectives on Sikhism. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 158. ISBN 978-8-1738-0736-7.
  4. ^ "Rarely played Indian instruments". Radioandmusic.com. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b Kaur Khalsa, Nirinjan (2014). "The Renaissance of Sikh Devotional Music Memory, Identity, Orthopraxy" (PDF). Retrieved 26 October 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Clearing misconceptions on the history of the Dilruba - Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
  7. ^ Dutta, Madhumita (2008). Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India. Star Publications. p. 22. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b Krishnaswami, S (1971). Musical Instruments of India. Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India. p. 36.
  9. ^ "Dilruba". Discover Sikhism. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  10. ^ Tribhuwan, Robin (2001). Rudra Veena: An Ancient String Musical Instrument. Discovery Publishing House. p. 21. ISBN 81-7141-581-4. Retrieved 16 May 2025.