The swarmandal or Indian harp  is part of the culture of Northern India and is used in concerts to accompany vocal music. The name combines Sanskrit words svara (notes) and maṇḍala (circle), representing its ability to produce many notes. The swarmandal may be the same as the 13th-century instrument known as the mattakokilā.  In the Mughal period, the swarmandal was seen as equivalent by the Āin-i-akbarī to the qanun.

This musical instrument has 21 to 36 strings and is hooked in a wooden box of around 30 inches long and fourteen inches wide. It is played according to the musician’s preference and holds no standard tuning or repetition of notes. Swarmandal is stamped by hand and is played exclusively by the lead vocalist. It is similar to European psalteries. With the development in the modern world, Swarmandals are also transformed in their shape of a trapezoid or semi-trapezoid shape. The vocalists who used this instrument extensively, include legends like Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan or Pandit Jasraj.