वीणा
वीणा
देवी सरस्वतीचा दैवी आवाज
सरस्वती वीणा हे कर्नाटक संगीताचे सर्वात आदरणीय तंतुवाद्य आहे, देवी सरस्वतीच्या नावावर आणि दक्षिण भारतीय शास्त्रीय अभिव्यक्तीसाठी आवश्यक गमक निर्माण करण्यासाठी २४ स्वरपट्ट्यांसह फणसाच्या लाकडाचे शरीर वैशिष्ट्यीकृत करते.
वाद्याची ओळख
वाद्य मार्गदर्शिकेत त्याचा नाद, रचना आणि निगा याबद्दल जाणून घ्या.
History & Evolution
The word is far older than the instrument. Sanskrit vina appears in Vedic texts and gives vainika, the word for a veena player. In early usage it covered stringed instruments in general. Early Indian sculpture shows harp-like, seven-stringed and single-string veenas. One study of the iconography traces a change in the instrument Saraswati holds, from a harp-like vipanchi in a 6th-century Nalanda bronze to the Thanjavur lute, which late 19th-century paintings by Ravi Varma and the calendar art that followed made her standard attribute.
The present form took shape at the court of Thanjavur in the early 17th century, in the reign of Raghunatha Nayaka, himself a veena player. Earlier veenas carried fewer than twenty movable frets; the Thanjavur design fixed 24, twelve to the octave. Sources credit it to Raghunatha, to his minister Govinda Dikshita, or to both. A Press Information Bureau feature, drawing on S. Krishnaswami's Musical Instruments of India (1993), says that fixing the frets opened the way for the 72-melakarta scheme of raga classification, which Govinda Dikshita's son Venkatamakhin set out in the Chaturdandi Prakasika.
- 1500 BCE onwards
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Ancient Origins
Veena-type instruments appear in Vedic literature and early temple iconography. The instrument develops associations with Goddess Saraswati and sacred learning.
- 6th Century CE
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Classical Form Emerges
Sculptures of Goddess Saraswati consistently depict the zither-style veena. The instrument's sacred status is firmly established across South India.
- 17th - 19th Century
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Golden Age
The Thanjavur Maratha court supports veena tradition. The Trinity composers create works suited to veena expression. The modern Saraswati veena form crystallises.
- 20th Century - Present
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Modern Era
Institutional training programmes supplement family lineages. The veena maintains its status as the premier Carnatic melodic instrument. Contemporary masters continue development.
Technical Aspects
Fret and Gamaka System
The hollow neck (dandi) carries 24 fixed frets (mettu) of metal, usually brass, set in hardened beeswax mixed with charcoal. The player raises pitch by pulling a string sideways across a fret, which tightens it; slides and finger flicks add further ornaments. A Press Information Bureau feature summarises C. V. Raman's view that the curved frets and string ends give the player continuous control of string tension.
String Configuration
The veena carries seven steel strings. Four run over the frets and carry the melody. Three drone strings, the talam strings, run at the side of the neck; the little finger of the right hand strikes them to sound the reference pitch (sruti) and mark the rhythm (laya).
Jackwood Resonator
Makers hollow the large round resonator (kudam) from jackwood and carve the tuning end as a yali, a lion-faced mythical creature. They carve an ekantha veena from a single block and build an ottu or sada veena from jointed pieces. The small resonator under the neck (sorakkai) began as a gourd and today comes in papier-mache or fibre.
प्रावीण्याचा प्रवास
या कलाप्रकारात प्रावीण्य मिळवण्यासाठी हा सुनियोजित प्रवास अनुसरा
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Posture and Basic Technique
Learn seated posture with instrument held at proper angle. Master right-hand plucking technique with wire plectra. Develop left-hand fret stopping.
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Exercises and Patterns
Study sarali varisai (basic exercises) and alankaras (patterns). Develop finger independence and coordination between hands. Build foundational technical facility.
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Gamaka and Ornamentation
Master gamakas (oscillations) through lateral string pulling. Learn kampita, jaru, nokku, and other ornaments. Develop the microtonal precision essential to Carnatic expression.
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Repertoire Development
Study kritis (compositions) of the Trinity and other composers. Learn varnam and ragam-tanam-pallavi forms. Develop extensive repertoire across major ragas.
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Performance and Improvisation
Master manodharma (improvisation) including alapana, niraval, and swarakalpana. Develop concert-level presentation. Study interaction with mridangam and violin accompaniment.
वारंवार विचारले जाणारे प्रश्न
How can a beginner, a child or a returning vainika start learning the Saraswati veena of Carnatic music?
Learn the veena with KalaSudha online or in a workshop, starting at Foundation level. In the first lessons you pluck the main strings with the right index and middle fingers and strike the talam drone strings with the little finger. Children are as welcome as adults: ask us about a starting age and about a size for a younger learner.
Players returning to the veena after a long break start again where they left off, because our courses run in levels. Your teacher first reviews where you stand.
Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help!