Basic Defintitions :
The word swara (Sanskrit: स्वर) is derived from the root svr which means “to sound”. To be precise, the svara is defined from Sanskrit nirukta system as svaryate iti svarah (स्वर्यते इतिस्वरः, does breathing, shines, makes sound), svayam raajate iti svarah (स्वयं राजते इति स्वरः, appears on its own) and sva ranjayati iti svarah (स्व रञ्जयति इति स्वरः, that which colours itself in terms of appealing sound).
Saarangadeva in Sangita Ratnakara says –
“Svatho ranjayathi Shrothruchittham sa svara uchyathe”
The sound that delights the mind of listeners by itself
Swa – by itself
Raa – shines
That which shines by itself and has its own personality.
Swara denotes a musical note or in scientific terms – a frequency. Swara Sthaana are places or positions of the swaras in a Sthaayi or Octave according to the frequency, measured by the unit Hertz (Hz), fundamental swara or frequency being the Shadja (which means in Sanskrit one from which the six are born)
Origin of Swaraas
The primitive man must have heard and felt music in myriad of ways and forms. In the cry of animals, dropping of petals, gurgling of rivers, thunder of clouds, etc. Imitation of animals and birds is believed to have lead to the origin of Naadha and Swara.
As quoted by Saranga Deva in Sangita Ratnaakara,
MayuraChaathakachChaagaKraunchaKokilaDarduraah
Gajascha saptha Shadjaadhikramaaduchchaarayantyami
SwaraSanskrit NameOrigin of sound in Animal KingdomEmotionSaShadjaPeacock or MayuraHeroism, wonder, terrorRiRishabhaOx or ChaathakaHeroism, wonder, terrorGaGaandhaaraGoat or Ram or ChaagaCompassionMaMadhyamaCrane or KrounchaHumour and LovePaPanchamaCuckoo, Koel or KokilaHumour and LoveDhaDhaivathaFrog or DarduraDisgust, alarmNiNishaadhaElephant or GajaaCompassion |
The Rig Veda (1500 – 1200 BCE) were a group of verses initially chanted in the Ekasvari gaayana or Aarchika Gaayana. This later gave way to Gaathika and then Saamika Gaayana where 3 swaras were used, the
- Udhaatha. – Ri
- Anudhaatha. – Ni
- Svaritha. – Sa
This lead to the Saama Vada using seven tonal positions, which was the predecessor to Swaras
- Prathama
- Dvitheeya
- Thritheeya
- Chaturtha
- Mandhra
- Athisvaarya
- Krushta
The Saamgaana scale was a downward scale and had two segments
M G R S and S N D P
The Ancient Tamizh music which had a parallel and a very ancient development had different names for Swaraas called Padhams. Their seven padhams were called.
பதம் ஏழு (padham Ezhu) | Swara |
குரல் (kural) | Sa |
துத்தம் (thuththam) | Ri |
கைக்கிளை (kaikkiLai) | Ga |
உழை (uzhai) | Ma |
இளி (iLi) | Pa |
விளரி (viLari) | Da |
தாரம் (thAram) | Ni |
There are presently 12 Swara Sthaanaas and 16 swara positions
1. Shadja – Sa |
2. Shuddha Rishabha – Ri 1 |
3. Chathushruthi Rishabha – Ri 2 |
4. Shatshruthi Rishabha – Ri 3 |
5. Shuddha Gaandhara – Ga 1 |
6. Saadharana Gaandhara– Ga2 |
7. Anthara Gaandhara – Ga 3 |
8. Shuddha Madhyama– Ma 1 |
9. Prathi Madhyama – Ma 2 |
10. Panchama – Pa |
11. Shuddha Dhaivatha – Dha1 |
12. Chathushruthi Dhaivatha Dha 2 |
13. Shatshruthi Dhaivatha – Dha 3 |
14. Shuddha Nishadha – Ni 1 |
15. Kaisikhi Nishadha- Ni 2 |
16. Kaakali Nishadha – Ni 3 |
References :
- Wikipedia
- Jnana Prabodha – Veena Mohan
- Shaivam.org
- TV Ramprasadh – blogs
1 Comment
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