Rabab is an Arabic word used to describe a plucked or strung instrument and references have been found in Arabic texts dating as far back as the 10th century (Sitar and Sarod in the 18th & 19th Century, Allyn Miner, pg. 61). Today, two popularly known types of rabab are the kabuli rabab (as shown here) and the dhrupadi rabab. The kabuli rabab is found primarily in Afghanistan and Kashmir, whereas the dhrupadi rabab is found primarily in the Indian subcontinent. The dhrupadi rabab, also affectionately named the seni rabab after Mian Tansen (a famous court musician of the Mughal Emperor Akbar), is commonly seen in old miniature paintings of Mardana and other musicians of this era. Though the rabab is mentioned quite frequently in old texts, this Saaj has become rare in India and is now only