The gottuvadhyam is a Carnatic string instrument originating from southern India. The most common use for it is a solo instrument in Carnatic music. It is also know as a gottuvadyam, chitravina, gettuvadyam, chitra vina, or mahanataka vina

The form of the gottuvadhyam is similar to that of the Saraswati veena. Its 21 strings makes it a complicated instrument, and this is not helped by its lack of frets. Due to the fretless nature of the gottuvadhyam, it is one of the instruments closer to vocal standards.

6 main string pass over the top of the instrument and these are used for the main melody. There are also 3 drone strings and 12 sympathetic string that run parallel and below the main melody strings.

The tuning of the gottuvadhyam is in some ways similar to that of the sitar, and in other ways similar to the Saraswati veena. It certainly does have its own quirks though. It is played with a slide in a manner similar to a lap steel guitar. A plectra is commonly used with the right hand to pluck the metal melody strings while a cylindrical block made out of hardwood, steel, glass or Teflon held by the left hand is used to slide along the strings cause the pitch to vary.

The literal translation of gottuvadhyam is “block instrument”.