SARASWATI VEENA - 7

KODUKKAPULI TREE

CASHEWNUT TREE

THUNGAMOONJI TREE

The wood that brings out the true resonance of a Veena is Jackfruit wood. Like Saint Thyagaraja's famous "Pancharatna Krithis" there are "Pancharatna Vrikshas". They are the 1)Jackfruit tree, 2) Blackwood Tree, 3) Margosa Tree, 4) Sandal Tree and 5) Coconut Tree.
I have already elaborated on the divine aspects of Jackfruit tree in my earlier postings. Apart from the Jack wood's  unique characteristics, the wood is also known to be absolutely fibrous and with not many pores. Above all the Jack wood , through appropriate seasoning is immunized to climatic changes.
The magnetic mike is the undesired third party that has caused the divorce between Veena and the wood which is the core and basis of Veena's inherent acoustic nature.
The advent of digital mixer-mikes (which are capable of producing tonal razzle-dazzle in place of true tones) has reduced the importance and involvement of wood to zero levels.
I have gathered information from my good technician friends (nearly 5 of them- names withheld on request) that 3 types of wood are being used in the making of a Veena. The reason is - 1) The functioning of the wood in Veena is rendered impotent by magnetic mike, 2) Scarcity of Jack wood and legal ban on cutting Jack wood in certain areas.

Wood from KODUKKAPULI  TREE, CASHEWNUT TREE and THUNGAMOONJI TREE (Samanea Saman in English also known as the Sleepy Tree, a highly Tamasic tree) are also being used for making Veenas. Sometimes Jack and the above mentioned three trees are mixed and marketed as "Veenas".