The Saraswati Vina is one of the oldest and most revered instruments in Carnatic (South Indian) classical music. It is a large plucked lute with a long neck made of jackwood and two resonators. It features 24 brass frets set in a bed of beeswax and charcoal. Unlike the sitar, the vina’s frets are fixed. In Hindu mythology, the goddess Saraswati is often depicted playing the vina, representing the union of the arts and sciences. It is considered a 'self-sufficient' instrument, as its drone strings allow the performer to maintain rhythm and harmony simultaneously without needing an accompanist.