Introducing the new Tilak Mridanga. The Mridanga is made from hard wearing fiberglass and is built to last. On the body of each is the famous "Tilak" symbol that distinguishes the Vaishnava. This is similar to the famous "Balarama" Mridangas, only new and improved! Available in Black, White, Red, Yellow, and Blue, and features both small and large style.

For those who don't know what a "Tilak Mridanga" is, it's a fiberglass and rubber version of the Bengali mridanga used in Hare Krishna temples worldwide. It really is a great idea and solved a number of problems devotees have with clay mrdangas.

Problem One: The sound changes with the weather. Anyone who has owned a clay mrdanga knows it sounds very different in each season. If it is cool or if there is a lot of water in the air the clay mrdanga will sound as resonant as banging away at a piece of paper. That's hardly the type of problem you want to have before heading out for a day of chanting on the street.

Problem Two: Speaking about chanting on the street... Have you ever been out on Harinam Sankirtan and had the weather suddenly change from a beautiful sunny day to what might be best described as a "beautiful" shower? Clay mrdangas don't like taking showers... or being rained on.

Problem Three: Have you ever been to the Panihati Festival in Atlanta, Georgia? If you have ever tried to play a clay mrdanga there, or at any other incredibly hot and humid festival, you probably know that the coating on the clay mridanga heads falls off when played intensely in that kind of weather. I know I won't bring my clay mrdanga to that festival any more, but I would bring a Tilak mrdanga.

Problem Four: Travel! It is hard to travel with an instrument that gets damaged by any little bump. It is possible to travel with a clay mrdanga, but it is a major challenge. An additional benefit of the Tilak mrdanga can be found when travelling by plane. If you take the head off of the big side of the drum (an easy task with the Tilak mrdanga) you can fill it with some of your clothes and other belongings, reducing the volume of your luggage. This can save a lot of money on the airfare!

Many devotees are interested in the difference in sound between a clay mrdanga and a Tilak drum. Some mrdanga players say clay mrdangas provide more flexibility in regard to the sounds they can produce. The fiberglass drums are in general louder than clay mrdangas and that will allow new mrdanga players to play longer in kirtan before their arms give out.

** NOTE ** You can hear in the video how much more the Tilak mrdanga sounds like a clay drum than previous fibreglass mrdangas.

Whats the bottom line?

• If you travel a lot you need a Tilak mrdanga.
• If you like doing Harinam and refuse to let little things like the weather get in your way, get a Tilak mrdanga.
• If you want a rugged instrument that can stand up to the beating of a Ratha Yatra or big festival, get a Tilak Mrdanga.
• If you want an indestructible instrument to give to a young son so he can channel his energy toward Krishna, get him a small size Tilak mrdanga.
• If you want an instrument that sounds good in any weather, get a Tilak mrdanga.

Big and Small Tilak Mrdanga Dimensions

Big and Small Tilak Mrdanga Dimensions [packed in the box]

Big Tilak Mrdanga: Weight: 5 kgs (11 lbs), Box Size: 13.5"x13.5"x26"
Small Tilak Mrdanga: Weight: 4.6 kgs (10 lbs), Box Size: 13"x13"x22"