Shruti boxes, harmoniums and more for yoga, mantra and sound meditation.
Yoga teachers, chant leaders and sound meditation practitioners often use a steady drone as the backdrop for their practice. This guide looks at the RagaLoom instruments suited to yoga, mantra and sound meditation: shruti boxes, harmoniums, the tanmandal and hand percussion. All of them are handcrafted in India and tuned to 440 Hz where tuned.
Drone instruments
A drone is a held note, or a few held notes, that gives singers and players a steady tonal centre.
- Shruti box: a hand-pumped acoustic drone, available with 13 notes or, in the 17-inch professional model, 36 notes across three octaves. Our 15-inch teak shruti box is listed for yoga classes, mantra chanting and sound meditation. See how a shruti box works.
- Harmonium: plays melody and drone together. Its drone stops hold selected notes while you sing. See Kirtan Harmoniums and Travel Harmoniums.
- Tanmandal: a four-string tanpura and a 15-string swarmandal in one wooden instrument, for a continuous tonal foundation and flowing notes around a vocal line.
Rhythm for devotional singing
- Brass manjira (4-inch hand cymbals) for bhajan, aarti and kirtan.
- Sheesham wood khartal, handheld clappers with metal jingles.
- Bolt-tuned dholak for bhajan, kirtan and folk music.
Which instrument for which practice?
| Practice | Good fit |
|---|---|
| Yoga class with chanting | 15-inch shruti box, travel harmonium |
| Mantra and kirtan | Kirtan harmoniums, manjira, khartal |
| Sound meditation | Shruti boxes, tanmandal |
| Travelling teacher | Folding travel harmoniums |
Shipping and returns
Shipping is by FedEx/DHL and is calculated at checkout: a base rate for your country plus $25 for each item. Customs duties and import taxes are not included in the item price or the shipping cost and are paid by the buyer. See our shipping page for every rate. Returns are accepted within 30 days for orders under $600 and within 10 days for orders of $600 or more; the buyer pays return shipping and customs. Full terms are on our returns page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best drone instrument for yoga?
A shruti box is the simplest choice: hand-pumped, acoustic and listed for yoga classes, mantra chanting and sound meditation. A harmonium adds melody.
Can a harmonium be used for mantra and yoga?
Yes. Our harmoniums are listed for bhajan, kirtan, mantra and yoga, and the mini and folding models are easier to carry.
Do I need electricity?
No. Shruti boxes and harmoniums run on hand-operated or hand-pumped bellows.
What tuning are your instruments?
Our harmoniums and shruti boxes are tuned to 440 Hz as standard. Some listings say 432 Hz is available by request, so ask before ordering.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Shipping is by FedEx/DHL and is calculated at checkout. Customs duties and import taxes are paid by the buyer.
Questions before you order?
Email info@ragaloom.com or WhatsApp +91 75033 59491.