Fundamental of Ancient Indian Music and Dance

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

Page 36

Vocal Music
Śārnigadeva mentions ( Rägaviveka-16-18) twenty rāgas which are as follows:
Śrīrāga, Natta, Vargāla (2) Bhāsa. Madhyama-sädava, Raktahamsa, Kolhahāsa, Prasava, Bhairava, Dhvani, Megharāga, Sumarāga, Kāmoda (2), Amrapañcama, Kandarpa, Desa, Kaišikakakubha. Nattanārāyana.
He also mentions the following eight Uparāgas' which have been explained as generated from near grāma-rāgas.
Śakatilaka, Takkasaindhava, Kokiläpañcama, Revagupta, Pañcamasāda va, Bhāvanāpancama,
Nāgagāndhāra and Nāgapañcama. Śārnigadeva says ( Rāgaviveka-67) that now he is stating Deši rāgas. From this it appears that, according to him rāgas are divided into three classes, viz. grāma -rāgas, rāgas and desi-rāgas. In Räga-vivekādhyāya ( ii. 3), he says that some of the noted grāma-rāgas are also called desī.
Some of the well-known desi rāgas are Mālavakaisika, Todi, sādava, Hindola etc:
Of minor rāgas, (rägānga) there are eight according to ancient writers mentioned by Sārrigadeva. There are thirteen rāgāngas stated to be current in his time. Other types of ancillary rāgas, called Upānga, Kriyānga, Bhāsārga, have also been mentioned. Sārngadeva says ( Rägaviveka-ii. 19 ) that the total number of rāgas is 264.
Rāgas are divided into three classes in accordance with the number of svaras in them. These are sampūrņa having all the seven svaras. șādava containing six svaras only, audava or auduva? consisting of only five svaras; the first or şadja is, however, constantly present in it.
1 The prefix 'upa' means 'near'. 2 Derived from udu denoting stars. Stars reside in the sky which is the
fifth of the five elements (pañcabhūta). From this number audava is so called.