Tambura, the mystical drone,
An instrument so pure, it stands alone.
With its resonant strings, it sets the tone,
For the music that takes us to the unknown.
A simple instrument, yet so profound,
It’s the heartbeat of Indian classical sound.
From the plains to the mountains, it can be found,
A companion to the singers, with its hypnotic sound.
With a long, elegant neck, and a round, resonant body,
The tambura is the soul of Indian melody.
Its harmonic vibrations, so pure and steady,
Fill the air with a mystical energy.
It has no frets, no notes to play,
Just open strings, in perfect array.
Yet its sound, so pure, can take us away,
To a realm of beauty, that words cannot convey.
Oh, Tambura, with your divine drone,
You guide us on a journey, to the unknown.
You set the adhara sruti and overtones of music, the heart and the bone,
Of the ancient Indian music that is our own