Mahakavi Kalidasa is believed to have commenced his poetic streaks with his famous "Manikya Veenam upalalayantheem". Also in his Navaratnamala, he has mentioned that parasakthi was playing Veena "Sarigamapadani rathaam tham veena sankraantha kaantha hasthaanthaam". There are five references to Veena in that sloka of 9 verses. In Rajarajeswari Ashtakam, Adi Sankara has mentioned "Veenavenu vinotha mandithakara veerasanaa samsthithaa".

Interestingly, though we always refer goddess Saraswathi as the custodian of arts (Aayakalaigal aruppthu naangu) Mahaans like Adi Sankara, Kalidasa, Abirami Bhattar etc. have identified Parasakthi Herself as the supreme commander of all forms of fine arts, amply demonstrated by God Hayagreeva, who in Lalitha Sahasranamam, calls Her "Sathushshashti kalamayee"(personification of 64 art forms).

Coming to Tamil, perhaps the early reference can be traced to Tirukkural in verses 66 & 279, wherein the pure tamil word (Yaazh) is used to refer to Veena.

"kuzhal inidhu Yaazh inidhu enbar tham makkal Mazhalai choll kelaadhavar".