How many Shuddha and Vikrita Swaras in total are there in Hindustani Sangeet?
20172021
How many Shuddha and Vikrita Swaras in total are there in Hindustani Sangeet?
Answer: A. 12 — Concept A full octave (saptak) in Hindustani classical music has 12 swaras in total. Two swaras — Sa and Pa — are achal (fixed) and exist in only one form.…
- A.
12
- B.
8
- C.
7
- D.
11
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
A full octave (saptak) in Hindustani classical music has 12 swaras in total. Two swaras — Sa and Pa — are achal (fixed) and exist in only one form. The other five swaras — Re, Ga, Ma, Dha, and Ni — are chal (movable) and each exists in two forms: a Shuddha (natural) form and a Vikrit (altered) form.
Application
Shuddha swaras (7): Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni — the seven natural notes of the octave.
Vikrit swaras (5): Komal Re, Komal Ga, Tivra Ma, Komal Dha, Komal Ni — the altered forms of the five movable notes (Sa and Pa have no Vikrit form).
Total swaras = 7 Shuddha + 5 Vikrit = 12.
Cross-check
This count of 12 matches the 12 semitones that make up one full chromatic octave, the same structure used in Western music theory — an independent check that confirms the total.