How many strings of 'Taant' in sarangi ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
The Sarangi is a complex bowed instrument in Hindustani classical music, renowned for its ability to closely imitate the subtleties of the human voice. The term 'Taant' specifically refers to the main playing strings that are pressed and bowed by the performer to generate the melody. Traditionally, a standard Sarangi is equipped with exactly *three* primary playing strings. These three *Taant* strings, historically made of gut, form the core melodic capability of the instrument. They are tuned in fifths and fourths to cover essential notes like the tonic ('Sa'), the perfect fifth ('Pa'), and often the lower octave tonic ('Mandra Sa'), which facilitates the sweeping melodic glides and ornamentation that characterize Sarangi playing.

The incorrect option is 2 (5), 3 (7), and 4 (21):
The numbers 5 and 7 are incorrect for the traditional number of bowed *Taant* strings. While an instrument like the Sitar typically features seven main playing strings, and some modern or regional Sarangi variants might have four main strings, the classic and most widely accepted construction uses only three for the primary melodic function. These figures often relate to the construction of other Indian string instruments, causing a common misconception when discussing the Sarangi. The number 21 is also factually incorrect for the main *Taant* strings. The number 21 (or sometimes 35 to 40) is actually the count of the much thinner, sympathetic strings, known as *Tarab*. These *Tarab* strings are never bowed; their sole purpose is to vibrate in resonance with the bowed notes, adding a rich echo and sustain to the Sarangi's tone, but they are not the 'Taant' or main playing strings.