Goddess Saraswati without veena: Sculptures of Pallava, Chola era reveal an earlier iconography

The article discusses the evolution of Goddess Saraswati's iconography, highlighting early sculptures from the Pallava, Chola, and Pala eras that depict her without the veena, an instrument now considered her defining attribute. It details various attributes found in these earlier depictions, such as suvadi, akka mala, ankusha, pasha, kundigai, and tarjani mudra, and points out key temples (Gangaikondacholapuram, Brihadisvara, Kailasanathar, Airavatesvara, Koothanur) where these veena-less images are found. The article suggests that the veena became a standard attribute only in later periods, notably in Hoysala art and Ravi Varma's paintings, and mentions the influence of Pala art on Chola sculptors.