DRUM PAD. (Picture courtesy - Google images) Drum pad is effectively used in place of Mridhangam. I heard a veena concert of Smt. Jayanthi Kumaresh with an artist with a drum pad, as an accompaniment. Similar research might find a replacement for the mridhangam sound. Electronic tabla is available but it can not play 'theermAnams' which add beauty to the rhythm. (We have to set the ThALam and then sing / play an instrument - I have one with me!!) IMHO, manual play is THE BEST, any day! Fiberglass mridhangams are available but the quality is not as good as the original! More research may find a better solution. Please watch this video - demo of Tilak Mridhangam: Tilak Mrdanga - YouTube