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title: 'What does the name taus mean?'
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date: '2026-10-19T15:06:49+00:00'
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summary: "Taus is Persian for peacock; the instrument's other name, mayuri, comes from the Sanskrit for peacock."
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  FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# What does the name taus mean?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 The name **[taus](/instrument/taus)** is the Persian word for peacock, and the instrument takes the bird's shape, with carved wings, legs and beak and real feathers at the tail. Its other name, mayuri or mayuri veena, comes from the Sanskrit mayura, which also means peacock. The Würzburg collection places it in the vina group, and the instrument emerged from the Punjab region.



 

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 ###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Taus The taus is a bowed, fretted lute with a peacock-shaped carved wooden body, used in Sikh Gurbani kirtan. Sikh tradition credits Guru Hargobind with creating it…     ](/en-gb/instrument/taus)
 
  

 

 

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