An Introduction to Bharateeya Shaastreeya Sangeeth... on the Auspicious occasion of Navaraatri, Mahaalaya Amaavaasya ...
With Pranaams at the feet of my Poojyaneeya Guruji, Late Pt Dattatreya Bhaaradwaaja Hareendra _/\_
on the Auspicious occasion of Mahaalaya Amaavaasya , 15th Oct 2012.
SANGEET( music) gaayanam evam Vaadanam( vocal & instrumental ) , is a creative activity spread across the 3 SAPTAKAS.
The SAPTAKA is the wide canvas across which the 7 SWARAS( notes) of SA, RE ,GA, MA, PA, DHA, NI, play to create melody.
The 3 SAPTAKAS are MANDRA ( lower octave) MADHYA( middle ) & TAARA( higher octave) ..of the 7 notes, the SWARAS of SA (SHADJA) & PA( PANCHAMA) are the ACHALA OR PRAKR.TI ( constant, unchanging, natural notes ) .the other 5 notes of RI( RISHABHA) , GA ( GAANDHAARA) ,MA( MADHYAMA), DHA( DAIVATA) & NI( NISHAADA) are the variable SWARAS which can take on 2 forms, the SHUDDHA & the KOMALA . Therefore, in the SAPTAKA, the play of the 7 SWARAS Is actually the PLAY OF 12 SWARAS, SA, PA & the 10 VARIANTS .
:: THE RAAGA/ RAAGINI : :
A RAAGA is like a human being with a personality of his own..just as each creation of God is beautiful in it's diversity, a RAAGA too has it's own personality, being different from the others..there are 2 KEY factors in shaping the RASA, BHAAVA & CHAARANA of each RAAGA/ RAAGINI, namely, the VAADI & SAMVAADI SWARAS .. The remaining SWARAS are the ANUVAADI SWARAS which complement these two ...The SWARAS NOT USED IN THE RAAGINI are VIVAADI SWARAS( limited/ unused) ..The musician lingers for a longer time on the VAADI/ SAMVAADI SWARAS .
:: POORVAANGA & UTTARAANGA PRADHAANA RAAGAS ::
If the VAADI Swara is in the earlier half of the Saptaka, it is POORVAANGA PRADHAANA ( SA, RI, GA, MA & PA ) and if the VAADI is in the latter half, it is UTTARAANGA PRADHAANA Raaga (MA ,PA ,DHA, NI & SA*) ... Normally. POORVAANGA PRADHAANA RAAGAS are EVENING RAAGAS & UTTARAANGA PRADHAANA RAAGAS are MORNING RAAGAS.
:: THAAT OR MELA ::
The Samooha of the 7 SWARAS is the THAAT OR MELA..this CANNOT be a RAAGA IN ITSELF, but has the ability to give birth to a RAAGA, it therefore has no AAROHANA/ AVAROHANA .
:: THE TAALA ::
Is a cycle of definite , numbered beats..these COUNTS are TAALA MAATRAS...THE LAYA ( RHYTHM) is the specified, constant interval of time between 2 MAATRAS..THE SAMA( beginning of the beat count) is THE MAATRA on which EMPHASIS is laid...THE TAULI( beat) on which there is no tap is KHAALI( counts in the air!!) The music plays within the framework of the TAALA, albeit subconsciously in a seasoned musician..
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We shall continue with one RAAGINI,for each of the NAVA RAATRIS , starting with KALYAANI (YAMAN) , SHIVARANJINI, BAAGESHRI (VAAGEESHWARI), SHREE, RAAGESHRI, HAMSADHWANI, SARASWATI, BHOOPAALI, DURGAA & conclude with BHAIRAVI ON VIJAYADASHAMI..
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PRANAAM..
- from the desk of Anuradha Udayshankar