News: An ~1,800-year-old black sandstone Saraswati idol from Madhya Pradesh has provided insights into ancient Indian music + Malava culture.

About

• Location: Manasa, Neemuch district, MP; now at Ujjain Museum.
• Period: 2nd century CE → Malava era.
• Significance: Oldest Saraswati idol found in MP holding a musical instrument.
• Instrument: Vakra-Veena → sweeping, arched, harp-like string instrument.
• Malavas: Mentioned by Quintus Curtius Rufus for resistance against Alexander the Great → later associated with Mandsaur region.
• Harp tradition: Bronze Age rock paintings at Nimbu Bhoj cave, Pachmarhi → later depicted on Samudragupta’s gold coins.
• Literary sources: Musical tradition linked to Rigveda + Bharata’s Natyashastra.
• Modern survival: Arched harp tradition survives in Myanmar as Saung-gauk.