Saraswati Veena

There are three major types of veenas in use in India today. The saraswati veena is the type proper to Carnatic music, the Indian classical music common in southern India. The Hindu goddess Saraswati is often depicted playing a veena. Saraswati is the goddess of music, art, science and vidyā, which is the understanding of the nature of life. The image of her with the instrument suggests that playing the veena leads to this understanding.

Makers of veenas carve the body out of wood. The maker of this example embellished it with banding and borders of intricately carved and decorated ivory boasting floral and foliate patterns. The maker attached a large calabash gourd, painted red, which acts as a resonator. The head of the instrument ends in a deeply carved depiction of a dragon with ivory eyes, teeth, ears and tongue. The dragon is a symbol of power and protection.