#esraj

The Art of the Esraj: Floral Engravings and Seasoned Wood

Description: At Aruj Musical, we believe an instrument should look just as beautiful as it sounds.

This is our 4-String Esraj, crafted in our family workshop in rural Bengal. We use deeply seasoned Toon wood, which gives the instrument a warm, singing voice. If you look closely at the back, you’ll see delicate floral designs carved directly into the wood. Because we build everything from scratch, we can customize these carvings to tell your own story.

To give players the best experience, we use traditional, hand-turned Ebony wood for the sympathetic (taraf) pegs, but we’ve upgraded the main playing strings with high-quality mechanical tuners. It’s the perfect blend of centuries-old tradition and modern convenience.

We ship our art globally. Connect with us at [email protected] to start your custom build.

Another character in the Elder Scrolls series for @ry13mc

Shri Ranadhir Roy, Raga Bhimpalasi (Esraj)

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“I have loved in life and I have been loved. I have drunk the bowl of poison from the hands of love as nectar, and have been raised above life's joy and sorrow. My heart, aflame in love, set afire every heart that came in touch with it. My heart has been rent and joined again; My heart has been broken and again made whole; My heart has been wounded and healed again; A thousand deaths my heart has died, and thanks be to love, it lives yet. I went through hell and saw there love's raging fire, and I entered heaven illumined with the light of love. I wept in love and made all weep with me; I mourned in love and pierced the hearts of men; And when my fiery glance fell on the rocks, the rocks burst forth as volcanoes. The whole world sank in the flood caused by my one tear; With my deep sigh the earth trembled, and when I cried aloud the name of my beloved, I shook the throne of God in heaven. I bowed my head low in humility, and on my knees I begged of love, ‘Disclose to me, I pray thee, O love, thy secret.’ She took me gently by my arms and lifted me above the earth, and spoke softly in my ear, ‘My dear one, thou thyself art love, art lover, and thyself art the beloved whom thou hast adored.’”