Noted Rudra veena exponent, Ustad Ali Zaki Hader, passed away during the wee hours of Friday (8th September 2023) in New Delhi. He was 50.
What is Rudra Veena?
* A sizable plucked string instrument called the Rudra veena is employed in Hindustani music, particularly in the style of music known as dhrupad.
* It is one of the main veena kinds used in Indian classical music and is renowned for its deep bass resonance.
Historical Relevance :
* The Rudra veena has a lengthy history and can be observed in the designs of temples built before the Mughal era.
* It first appears in court documents under the reign of Zain-ul-Abidin (1418–1470), and among Mughal court musicians it rose to prominence.
* Princely states supported Rudra veena players as dhrupad practitioners before to India’s independence.
* However, after independence, this patronage structure was abolished, which caused Dhrupad and the Rudra veena to lose some of their appeal.
* The Rudra veena has seen a rise in popularity recently, in part due to interest from practitioners outside of India.
Names and their origins :
* The term “Rudra veena” refers to the instrument and is derived from Lord Shiva’s name “Rudra,” making it “the veena of Shiva.”
* According to legend, Parvati or the goddess Saraswati was referenced in Shiva’s creation of the Rudra veena.
* Another explanation claims that the asura Ravana created the Rudra veena as a result of his devotion to Lord Shiva.