“Swara” is the basic entity of music. It is the sound, which is pleasant to ears. There are seven “swaras” in Indian Classical Music. They are called as “sapta (Seven) Swaras” . They are – “Shadja – Sa”, “Rishabha – Ri”, “Gaandhara -Ga”, “Madhyama – Ma”, “Panchama – Pa”, “Daivata Da”, “Nishada – Ni”.
There are two categories of “swaras” – “Prakruti” and “Vikruti”.
“Prakruti swara” is one, which is used in the music, in its original form without any variations. Those are – “Sa” and “Pa”.
A “Vikruti Swara” is one which can have some variations – “Ri” , “Ga”, “Ma”, “Da”, “Ni”. To learn about the “Vikruti swara Prabheda” ( types ) see below –
As mentioned earlier , “Vikruti swaras are – “Ri” , “Ga”, “Ma”, “Da” and “Ni”.
There are three types of “Ri” .
1. “Shudda Ri” – Ri1
2. “Chatushruti Ri” – Ri2
3. “Shatshruti Ri” – Ri3
There are three types of “Ga”.
1. “Shudda Ga” – Ga1
2 .”Sadharana Ga” – Ga2
3. “Antara Ga” – Ga3
There are two types of “Ma”.
1. “Shudda Ma” – Ma1
2. “Prati Ma” – Ma2
There are three types of “Da”
1. “Shudda Da – Da1
2. “Chatushruti Da – Da2
3. “Shatshruti Da – Da3
There are three types of “Ni”.
1. “Shudda Ni” – Ni1
2. “Kaishiki Ni” – Ni2
3. “Kakali Ni” – Ni3
So totally we have 14 “Vikruti swaras” at a certain pitch level. This makes total of 16 “swaras” including the “Prakruti swaras” – “Sa” and “Pa”.
Refer illustration below for the 16 “swaras” –
Prakruti and Vikruti Swaras
Practically this is not possible. As at a certain pitch there can be only 12 distinct “swaras”. Please note the below. At the same pitch ,
“Chatushruti Ri” = “Shudda Ga”
“Shatshruti Ri” = “Sadharana Ga”
“Chatushruti Da” = “Shudda Ni”
“Shatshruti Da” = “Kaishiki Ni”
Refer illustration below for the 12 “swaras” –
12 Swaras and their positions
The conversion from 12 notes to 16 notes has been done to arrive at the 72 “Janaka Raagas”. In a ” Raaga” there cannot be two swaras sounding exactly the same.