How many Shuddha and Vikrita Swaras in total are there in Hindustani Sangeet?

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.