Fundamental of Ancient Indian Music and Dance

Author(s): Sureshchandra Benarji
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Fundamentals of Ancient Indian Music and Dance
been eternal,” which is employed by Gandharvas, is regulated by the rules relating to graha, amśa, mārchanā, etc. and is conducive to welfare. That which is composed by a vāggeya. kāras, possessed of various characteristics and is described in connection with deći rāga etc., is gāna, delightful to people.
Songs are twofold from another point of view, viz. mārgaand desī. The former is that which was sought by gods like Brahmā, and was used by Bharata and the like before Śiva and is always conducive to welfare. That is desi which caters to the taste of the people of particular regions.
Songs are again of two kinds according as these are, or are not, set in words. Those, which consist of dhātu and other accessories, are called nibaddha (set). Those which are not so are an ibaddha (unset). Nibaddha song has three designations viz. prabandha, vastu are rūpaka. A part of prabandha is call. ed dhātu. It is fourfold-Udgrāha, melā paka, dhruva and ābhoga; these are the four constituents of the nibaddha song in order. Of these, melāpaka and ābhoga do not exist in certain cases. Wind, bile and phlegm, supporting our body, are called dhātu. Similarly, udgrāha etc. support the body of the prabandha, and, as such, are called dhātu. Dhruva is so called as it is constant in all prabandhas. Between dhruva and ābhoga occurs another dhātu which is called antara or antarā.
Prabhandhas are threefold--two-dhātu (i.e. devoid of mela paka and ābhoga), three-dhātu ( devoid of melā paka) and four-dhātu (i.e. having all parts ).
Again, prabandhas are either aniryukta or niryukta; the former is devoid of the restrictions relating to chandas (rhythm) and tāla. The latter is regulated by such restrictions.
The number of different kinds of prabandha is quite considerable,
1 That is, revealed, not composed by human beings (Kallinātha.). 2 A class of demi-gods regadrded as the the singers or musicians of
gods and said to give good and agreeable voice to girls. 3 One who composes poems and songs. 4 Derived from the root m;g (to seek).