Dilruba originates

The Dilruba originates from
the Taus and some argue is
the work of the 10th Sikh
Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ,
whilst that of the Taus was
the work of Guru
Hargobind (the sixth guru
of the Sikhs). The Dilruba
was then produced to
replace the previously
heavy instrument (the
Taus). This attempt was
intended to 'scale down'
the Taus into what is now
known to be the Dilruba.
This made it more
convenient for the Sikh
army to carry the
instrument on horseback.
Dilruba detail
The structure of both
instruments is very similar,
each having a medium
sized sitar-like neck with 20
heavy metal frets . This neck
holds on a long wooden
rack of 12-15 sympathetic
strings . While the dilruba
has more sympathetic
strings and a differently
shaped body than the esraj,
they both have four main
strings which are bowed .
All strings are metal. The
soundboard is a stretched
piece of goatskin similar to
what is found on a sarangi.
Sometimes the instrument
has a gourd affixed to the
top for balance or for tone
enhancement.
The instrument can be
rested between the knees
while the player kneels, or
more commonly rested on
the knee of the player while
sitting, or also on the floor
just in front of the player,
with the neck leaning on
the left shoulder. It is
played with a bow (known
as a "gaz"), with the other
hand moving along the
strings above the frets. The
player may slide the note
up or down to achieve the
portamento, or meend ,
characteristic of Indian
music.