Veena

• Is the National Instrument of India. 
• Is one of the oldest instruments used by mankind, perhaps even from theVedic times. 
• Is a plucked stringed instrument that has many variants like the 
• Saraswathi Veena, which is predominantly used in Carnatic Music tradition; 
• Rudra Veena, which is primarily used in Hindustani Music tradition; 
• Chitra Vina or Gottuvadyam;
• Vichitra Vina; 
• Mohan Vina. 
• When built from a single piece of wood, it is called Ekantha Veena 
• In Indian mythology, the Veena is considered as an instrument of the Gods & hence the name ‘Divine instrument’ has been attributed to it.
• Veena is the favourite instrument of several important deities including Saraswathi, the goddess of arts and learning. The Veena held by Goddess Saraswathi is known as ‘Kachchapi’. 
• In the sloka ‘Vipanchya gãyanthi’ in Soundarya lahari, Jagadhguru Adi Shankaracharya portrays a beautiful scene in which Saraswathi plays the ‘Vipanchi’. 
• Saraswathi is the goddess of all muses and is the Veena pustakadhaarini – one who holds the divine source of sound and wisdom. 
• Lord Shiva also mastered the veena and plays the rudra veena. 
• Narada Muni plays the Mahathi Veena 
• The veena is about four feet in length, consisting of a large resonator (kudam), a wooden bridge (kudurai), a tapering hollow neck (dandi) & a small resonator. 
• It is unique to Thanjavur because the instrument is made from a particular strain of matured jack fruit tree found only in that area. 
• A Geographical Indication has been registered for Thanjavur Veenas 
• The Veena has been declared as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of India
• A typical solo veena concert would have a percussion instrument like mridangam & an upapakavadyam like ghatam, morsing or kanjira 
• Some famous Vainikas are S.Balachander, Chitti Babu, Doraiswamy Iyengar & Emani Shankar Shastri