SOUTHERN INDIAN VINA. SMALL SITAR.
THE instrument to the left of the plate represents the Vina in common use m
Southern India. Though in Northern India and the Deccan the use of the
vina, or bin, is restricted to professional musicians or skilful performers,
we do not find this to be the case in the South. This instrument is taught in the
schools in many places, and is a very favourite one with amateurs of the higher
classes. The specimen here represented is about 250 years old, and is from the
collection at the Tanjore palace. The delicacy of the carving and the great
wealth of decoration bestowed upon this instrument are remarkable, and prove
it to have belonged to some very distinguished personage — probably to one ot
the Maharajahs of Tanjore.
