In Indian Classical Music , from the Vedic ages , the saints and Gurus have studied all the various aspects of sound. A study on music over the long period of time has given a lot of insight into the various aspects to understand Music .
Thus it is said that , any sound that is pleasing to the ear and sounds melodious is MUSIC OR Sangeet. . Sound is known as NAAD in sanskrit. Thus Naad Can be of two types one is NOISE and the other is MUSIC.
The Naada In the Normal audible range to a human ear is taken as an OCTAV or SAPTAK in Hindustani Classical music .The notes in this Range which can be sung as a Melody and which form the basis of Music are The SAPTA SWARAS. Before writing more about the Swaras , I would like to write a little about NAADA
NAADA as I mentioned is the range of sound audible to our ears. There are 22 SHRUTIS recognised within this range that can be used for musical purpose. The SEVEN SWARAS within the 22 SHRUTIS is known as the SAPTAK. The SAPTAK has 7 swaras or notes These are :SA, RE,GA, MA,PA,DHA,NI. These are abbreviations of their names.The names of the SAPTASWARAS are
1.SHADJA– SA, 5 . PANCHAM–PA
2,RISHABH–RE 6. DHAIVAT–DHA
3. GANDHARA–GA 7. NISHAD—NI
4. MADHYAM–MA 8. SHADJA—SA(Taar)
These 7 swaras are basis to all music .These seven notes form one OCTAVE or SAPTAK..The first note SA (taar)is repeated after NI while singing or playing them This normal range of swaras is known as the MADHYA SAPTAK. The octave lower than this range is known as the MANDRA SAPTAK and the octave higher then the mid range is called TAAR SAPTAK.
THE SWARAS: The swaras or notes have been known to be conceived from sounds heard in nature. Thus ,the seven notes and their relation to nature is
SA . ,Cry of the Peacock
RE The Lowing of the Bull
GA/ The Bleating of the goat
MA The Call of the Heron
PA The Call of the Cuckoo
DHA The Neighing of the Horse
NI The Trumpeting of the Elephant
The seven swaras are also known to be associated with planets and colors. Each Swara is also associated with each of the seven CHAKRAS in our bodies.Thus singing the swaras gives immense peace and calms our minds.It has a positive effect on our body , and mind. This has been discussed elaborately in one of the articles here on Music Therapy.
THE SWARAS IN ASOCIATION WITH PLANETS;
SA–MERCURY , GREEN PA–SATURN, BLUE OR BLACK
RE–MARS, RED DHA–JUPITER, YELLOW
GA–SUN , GOLDEN NI—VENUS, MULTI COLOR
MA–MOON, WHITE
These seven notes in the octave are known as shudh swaras. Apart from these 7 notes ,there are some more notes , these are called the VIKRIT swaras. The basic swaras all have a particular position or frequency in the octave. the notes which are higher or lower than the basic notes are known as VIKRIT SWARAS . SA and PA do not have VIKRIT swars . they are known as the ACHAL SWAR or the swaras which do not move from their positions. The rest of the swars are CHAL swaras or the notes which can be moved from their position.
The VIKRIT SWARS are of two types ,KOMAL and TEEVRA . KOMALswar is the one which is moved down by one note than its original position . RE, GA,and DHA have KOMAL swars. They are represented by putting a horizontal line under the note while writing. The TEEVRA SWAR is one note higher in position than its orignal note. There is only one TEEVRA Swar, its MA. while writing the Teevra swar its denoted by putting a vertical line above the note. Thus in an octave 12 swaras are used musically to frame them into raagas.
The Tanpura is always tuned to the SA_ PA swaras .or SA and MA depending on the raaga.
Thus the order of swaras is:
SA,komal RE,Shudh RE,Komal GA, ShudhGA, MA, TeevraMA, PA,Komal DHA,Shudh DHA,Komal NI,Shudh NI, SA(TaarShadja)
The ascending order of the swaras is known as the AROHEE, and the descending order is known as the AVAROHI. The aroh-avaroh form the structure of the Raga.
By combining the shudh and Vikrit swaras in different ways the Raagas have come into being. The ancient Indian Texts have given many set of rules, which has given us so many Raagas which we listen even to this day.
The students and performers of Classical Music practice these swaras ,in various permutations and combinations which form the Alankars .By practicing the swaras of the lower Octave early in the morning ,gives amazing voice quality and strength, thus enabling the singer to develop a ability to sing any swar combination in Raaga Music.
SHRUTIS : There are 22 shrutis in an Octave. Shrutis are the notes which can be recognised by the human ear and can be sung . They are like microtones..It can be said that the main seven swaras have small microtones within them..SA (shadja) , Ma(madhyam) and Pa(pancham) have 4 microtones or shrutis each. Gandhar and NI(Nishad) 2 shrutis each and Re(rishabh) and Dha(dhaivat) have 3 shrutis each.
The shloka that describes the Shrutis is,
chatush chatush chatushchaiva shadja madhyam panchama .
Dwai dwai nishad gandharo, tisri rishabh dhaivato .
All the 22 shrutis have names too. The Seven notes that are sung now are all placed on the first microtone in their respective shrutis. .This establishes the link between the theory and practice of Classical Music.Understanding the swaras and practicing music is very rejuvenating and brings one close to the Almighty .
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Nothing new here. Just same informations as everywhere (wiki?) That has been put here in even longer and harder to comprehend manner
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Thanks for your views. This article is for the layman, who are new to the topic . Moreover, the facts would remain facts , they will remain Same, as long as Music exists. I am a student of Music, and whatever I learnt , I put in my own words. Nothing from Wiki.
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Thanks for your reply. Yes, you’re right, but I’m just sad to see the same informations all over internet, looks like copy+paste, I understand the rules don’t change but I’d like to learn something new.
Also I’d be interested in learning what sources are telling about association of planets with swaras? Thanks
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I understand that you want to know more about this topic. I came to know about the association of the swaras and planets from my teacher.
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