Played with a bow, the Saranda is associated with Sikh music and is variously thought to have been invented by the third Sikh Guru Amar Das (1479-1574) and Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606) the fifth Sikh guru. Traditional Sikh musicians called rababis, raagis and dhaadis played the Saranda until the 1920s when it was replaced by more contemporary instruments.

For a 19th century example see Susan Stronge, The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms, Weatherhill, 1999, fig. 42