The instrument is basically made of bamboo wood that uses horsehair and other elements like animal hides and coconut shells . As per the musicians ’ interpretations , the fewer the hairs , the sharper the sound it produces . An increase in the density of hair increases the bass of this instrument .
Many players have been seen to outgrow their nails to be able to slide their fingers better across the instrument and create quality consistent music . It is always important to have the grooves set right when one decides to play such a raw instrument .
The instrument can be traced back to the Hela residents of Sri Lanka . The story of this instrument coming to India is based on our mythologies . It is believed that after the war had ended with Ravana , Hanumanji who was a great patron of music ; picked up the instrument and brought it to North India . The Demon God , Ravana might have used it in his own pursuits of devotion . The instrument had popularity in the royal families of India . Especially the Sangit tradition in the desert areas of Rajasthan has helped in propagating this music farther across the frontiers . In fact , it has been recorded to be the first instrument that has been picked up by many princes in the earlier stages of their music learning . The unique sound of this violin-like instrument soon found popularity across the globe and has traveled to the Middle Eastern and European countries by the 9th Century .
Rawan Nada . In fact , there is a book called Finding the Demon ’ s Fiddle on the same story . The history and the tunes of the past merge into a curious tale of passion for music , with an overconsuming ambition for power . The musicality that has been bewildering the royal clans for ages can be no shorter than a grand attempt at voicing the glory of the time through music and tunes . Centuries later , this is a surprisingly fresh piece of music for audiophiles . Many modern musicians like L . James have been practicing the instrument in its truest essence . The soothing sound of the instrument takes one to the
bye lanes of memory from where stories emanate and fill up the heart so profoundly . Thanks to the digital age instruments like the ravanahatha had been popularized across various
Borders , be it the Indian states or the foreign interests . It is important that such traditions emanate way out of the Royal Gharana and nourish the commoners with the sounds of the Royal . More workshops , studies , or initiatives by musicians would bring such forgotten instruments into the mainstream media .
However , there are different close alterations to this kind of instrument and it is remarkable how much experimentation has been brought in the following years by various musicians across the country . Today many have been composing on the Rudra Veena , the karuna nadee , and the
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