The Veena

The Veena

(As mentioned in a much earlier post on this page, it was Shiva who invented the worlds first stringed instruments and the musical scale. Prior to that people mostly used percussion instruments to express themselves).

Her association with Lord Shiva( also known as Rudra), made the Veena a popular instrument of the Yogis und Ascetics. For them, playing of the Veena united ritual and meditation.
It is said, that the music of the Veena possesses the power to purify the mind of the musician and the listeners alike, and to uplift their consciousness into the transcendent spiritual planes.

Around the 16th century the Rudra Veena had developed her actual shape with frets and two symmetric resonance bodies. At this time it evolved into one of the most important melody instruments of the aristocratic court music and became later the main solo instrument of the primary vocal Dhrupad music style.

With the rise of the Khyal, the modern classical music style of North India, and the therewith aligned evolution of newer instruments like Sitar and Sarod the Veena lost its importance from the 19th century onwards.

Even the Veena is still worshiped as mother of all Indian string instruments, one can find her today only rarely on the musical platforms. With her extreme subtle playing techniques and aesthetic which require lifelong devotion and self‐discipline for mastering the instrument, she has become an ambassador of the past times.

Still, as alternatives to the restless time sentiment of the present age, the Rudra Veena and her music are nowadays rediscovered by a growing international audience. Independently from the great history of the instrument also today’s listeners enjoy the unique experience the Veena has to reveal ‐ an unparalleled musical journey between silence and ecstasy.

Water colour painting by Lesley Whiting
(Fair use policy - no commercial reproduction)