Alpini vina and eka-tantri vina
The ālāpiṇī vīṇā and the eka-tantrī vīṇā were medieval stick-zither and tube-zither veenas in India, with single strings and gourd resonators. The instruments became prominent in Indian music after 500 C.E. as instruments of court music. They replaced the harp-style veenas and lute-style veenas.
Also recorded as ālāpiṇī vīṇā, eka-tantrī vīṇā
Alpini vina and eka-tantri vina
Walters Art Museum: Home page Info about artwork · Public domain
- Field
- musical instrument · chordophone · tube zither
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The ālāpiṇī vīṇā and the eka-tantrī vīṇā were medieval stick-zither and tube-zither veenas in India, with single strings and gourd resonators. The instruments became prominent in Indian music after 500 C.E. as instruments of court music. They replaced the harp-style veenas and lute-style veenas.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Alpini vina and eka-tantri vina. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q106678453
In this article
Overview
The instruments were used in Southeast Asia, both mainland and island nations, and were recorded in sculpture and relief sculpture. Although the tube zithers and stick zithers are very similar, it is possible that they have different origins. Early paintings of stick zithers in India date back at least to the 5th century C.E. The earliest currently known stick zither is in the Caves of Ajanta at the end of the 5th century. After a period of assuming that tube zithers spread from India to Southeast Asia, modern scholars have been trying to decide if the tube zithers might have originated in Southeast Asia and spread to India. Whatever the origins, Indian influence on musical culture in Southeast Asia is recorded in the archaeological remains of past civilizations.
Alpini vina and eka-tantri vina is a musical instrument or chordophone.
Saraswati with an alapini vina, from a larger image God Vishnu with Goddesses Lakshmi and Sarasvati. Chicago Art Institute. From museum:
unnamed photographer, released into CC0 public domain by the Chicago Art Institute on the source webpage · Chicago Art Institute
![Ellora, cave 21, Shiva? with Alapini vina. 7th-8th century C.E. [1]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Ellora%2C_cave_21%2C_Shiva_with_vina.jpg/800px-Ellora%2C_cave_21%2C_Shiva_with_vina.jpg)
Ellora, cave 21, Shiva? with Alapini vina. 7th-8th century C.E. [1]
Wimvdmeer
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Alpine Racer 3Work
- Alpine SkiWork
- Alpine SurferWork
- AlpinerWork
- Alta Car and Engineering CompanyOrganisation
- Alta MotorsOrganisation
- altar bellTerminology
- Altec Lansing DuplexTerminology
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with Alpini vina and eka-tantri vina?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.