The story of Saraswati Veena | Jayanthi Kumaresh | TEDxWhitefield

Often referred to as “The Queen of instruments” in the classical music of South India, the Saraswati Veena is an ancient instrument to have retained its exalted position in modern times. Dr Jayanthi gracefully shares the story of its inception and gives a mesmerizing performance. A collaborator, she has performed with legends such as Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, Violin Maestro Shri. R. Kumaresh, Hindustani Flautist Ronu Majumdar, Hindustani Violinist Kala Ramnath, Carnatic Musicians Bombay Jayashree, Sudha Ragunathan, and the like.A researcher, she holds a Doctorate for her work on “styles and playing techniques of the Saraswati veena” and conducts workshops and lecture demonstrations around the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@pallabidutta968]

The veena is so mystical. It sounds so classical like the sitar and yet sound so modern like the guitar.

[@momo_2911]

Sitar was actually made inspired from Veena

[@louisthelemur1238]

Veena is much older than the sitar

[@Kapish.k.narayanmurthi]

Veena is much older than sitar. The mughls changed veena with sitar and mridangam with tabla

[@srajan5286]

Your are absolutely correct.....​@@Kapish.k.narayanmurthi

[@srajan5286]

​@@louisthelemur1238yes indeed

[@sureshnaidu84]

This TED talk is quite spectacular. As a neuroscientist at MIT, whenever I present spinal cord neural circuits to non-scientist, I compare it to string instrument. Now, it make more sense for me!

[@_anagh6820]

Hello sir, my name is Praveen Kaushik. I just completed my UG in Neuropsychology & Neurosciences Sir my research interest quite resembles yours ie., formation of synapses & neural circuits and their modulations with respect to higher cognitive processes.. Sir, I am very pleased to see your profile & beg your suggestions for what should i do further to approach these questions in an efficient way?

[@RikthDcruze]

i love south India and the culture of the people there so much.

[@glennlopez6772]

The word mystical, with this presentation dies not seem out of place. Most agreeable presentation from all aspects. The vena is not built to look like a Rolls-Royce and seems so bulky to me, but the sounds alone are so inspiring, and enchanting, to want to own one. Tolerating other sound manifestations of this instrument is a noble disposition. Being interested in only some musical instruments and their build I'd say please don't use drumstick wood! There are many other dragons out there who hate all music!

[@arti315]

Such talented and intelligent lady. I admire and thank her for sharing indian classical music with its rich culture with the younger generation..to inspire them to keep this beautiful culture alive..namaste

[@radhikade876]

Such a fascinating story! Told and performed so beautifully. Loved the bit about the temple bells tied to the jackfruit tree and the resonance of those auspicious sounds entering the wood which would later be transformed into a musical instrument - the veena! What a lovely, magical concept! Thanks for enlightening us on this sacred instrument!🙏🙏

[@vg1976vgv]

Much needed information to protect our culture. Thanks Madam.

[@nalinikanthv]

An enriching experience listening to this talk. After the fall of the Vijayanagara empire, Thanjavur became the epicenter for culture in South India, for Telugu poetry as well. Now I understand that even for Carnatic music it was a glorious period. The musical trinity appeared, veena was refined, grammar was written for Carnatic music with the sorts of Govinda deekshitar and veena kuppayyar. Saraswati Mahal sheltered the beautiful literary heritage and cauvery carried forward the wonderful musical heritage. Feel so happy ! Thank you to Smt. Jayanthi Kumaresh and to the Tedx team.

[@surajpatil9867]

Wow. There is a formula for ragas. Our ancestors were so genius to create such a master peice 😍😍

[@avirads]

Govinda deekshitar giving tedx talk...what a thought!!

[@souviksardar7722]

Thank you so much mam to know what is sarashyati veena

[@Createyourjoy111]

I feel blessed to have heard this beautifully articulated presentation. Thank you Dr. Kumaresh! 🙏✨ Jai Maa Saraswati

[@chandrasekharkv158]

Madam, Thank you for the origin, development and detailed information on Veena. Just for the information, there is Gayatri Veena which has only one string. Smt. Viokum Vijayalakshmi, a blind lady plays it. I think it is only one in the world and only one person plays it. When she plays that one string really talks, not simply makes sound. Thank you again madam for giving us the history of Veena.

[@avaniyaa697]

Her hand speed while playing Veena is mesmerising... It is not easy to attain such perfection and edge in the notes... believe me I play Veena myself!

[@avaniyaa697]

thank u

[@PirMajid]

which raga she played please?

[@bharatbhushan3070]

This perfection only come by practice.....

[@manisaraswatula8999]

@@PirMajid I think Charukesi

[@jayarajrajasundaram3226]

Thanks for educating me

[@srisharaghavendrahs9551]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@vishnucnair5645]

Great information.. ❤️👍

[@sanjubhakta78]

Thank u for the knowledge .

[@rammohanpotturi2471]

Absolutely amazing explanation

[@lynx777]

This is fantastic and underrated

[@yuvrajrathod869]

Beautifully explained

[@vijaybgood]

A very succinct talk on the veena and its history of development.. Kudos...

[@kuppilikrishnakumarivideoc1369]

Vijay Surendran

[@jyothireghunadhan8626]

Thank you for sharing knowledge about veena...

[@premakumari9707]

Thank you for such beautiful presentation. At the same time I feel sorry that people in India don't know it's value and as such there are very little information about it in Google search .

[@gabrielverilaskja9316]

wau ... awesome. Oh god... how much i love indian culture ...

[@jeetjethwa4267]

Very specific and sufficient knowledge, thank you

[@vijayalakshmithiyagarajan2570]

Good information.thank you.

[@FireWithinCosmosaicSEA]

You have just Re-enchanted me... Ma'am! Thank you so much for this talk

[@GuitSiva]

Good job..👏🙏😊🎶

[@joshtraj]

LOVELY TO SEE YOU ON TED TALKS JAYANTHI. GOD BLESS YOU MY DEAR. I LOVED YOUR SPECTACULAR TALK.

[@armstrongadv1440]

Every instruments.. Gives 🙏 pleasure Cure 🙏🏻 ailments Thank ❤🌹🙏 you ❤🌹🙏 madam

[@micheleringingbells]

i am always moved by the magical sounds you make! Thank You for the fantastic talk - I will share with my students in Japan💕

[@sindhanaudhayam2772]

Wow wt an amazing hidden history behind veena.... pleasing to hear..I too want to learn to play veena ... jayanthi mam ..will u accept me as sishya

[@ushaponnusamy6708]

Simple in language n elaborate in description. Happy to know about it's structure potentials n soul resonance beneficial to the creations😊🙏

[@vanik3640]

Very informative talk on Veana.

[@PirMajid]

Does anyone knows which raga she plays? It's really soothing. I just need to know please.

[@bijayshrestha5926]

Pir Pirabadi Raga Charukeshi 🙏🏻

[@PirMajid]

@@bijayshrestha5926 Thank you very much

[@sohamnarkhede123]

Beautiful history 🚩

[@veenai.dr.sivakumarbalasub1817]

Scintillating demo of d entire history of Saraswati veena in a nut shell....but it has 3 and half octaves not 3 as u specified...raga selection was very nice with a little bit of thanam....

[@pratis7006]

I always wondered how this sacred instrument Veena was made? There are many mythological stories( may be true) around it but this one sounds very interesting, thank you for sharing 🙏🏻. If you can share any references or resources/books to refer to, it would be really helpful 🙏🏻

[@shrikanthramanagara2382]

Wonderful

[@anujdalal4993]

Nice video

[@aradhanacv5788]

🙏🙏

[@mihirprajapati1975]

Fabulous 💝💝💝💝💝

[@veenakadhai4055]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@tapasmajumder6110]

extraordinary

[@AxViki]

Nice ❤

[@nallathambie7674]

Hi Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh, Being an Experienced Veena Player you must have specially ordered this particular Saraswati Veena Type. Where to buy or make this type of Veena please. Thanks Dr. Jayanthi.

[@Daffodil956]

Beautiful

[@madhankimar]

Veena is advanced form of yazhi.

[@gddhanush4958]

Govinda deekshitar is ancestor of Kanchi mahaperiyava

[@Kundanchaubey10]

Amazing.....

[@oltvnews7292]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@dr.sriram5959]

panamam mam what a great story behind Veena, pranamam.

[@murugeshanswamy3976]

What is the Actual root meaning of the Word Veena?

[@_anagh6820]

The early Sanskrit texts call any stringed instrument as Vana, and these include bowed, plucked, one string, many strings, fretted, non-fretted etc.. Later this term evolved to veena. I think there is no vichhedan we can do with term "veena" just like "nadi or river"

[@indhu75]

Beautiful :)

[@preethibharath5883]

Nice

[@preethibharath5883]

Great iknow some veena mysur veena

[@dhrumitpandit9529]

Does anyone knows which raga she plays? It's really soothing.

[@saichand1812]

Dhrumit Pandit sounds like raag charukeshi to me

[@jamesburmester8861]

Master of the veena

[@Anamikaaaa]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@dhagetita6924]

Wow

[@imramesh8694]

Everything is superb! Except the mythological religious belief 😃

[@rajuchitrada9187]

While her skill on veena is remarkable, attaching history of veena to the last 400 years is such a skewed view of thousands of years of tradition of veena! It's so unfortunate that even artists of such a calibre are brain washed!

[@Kapish.k.narayanmurthi]

You are absolutely correct