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In the Indian music system which originates from South India, there is a particular form of classification and nomenclature of scales arising out of the maximum number of scales known as “Parent Raagas or Melakarrtaas” These are arranged in a very specific Ascending and descending order.

For instance, if we take the note “C” as our Tonic, then the following would be the order of the different sets of Raagas/ scales called “Chakras”:-

(Since we use the syllables “Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni” instead of “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti” I would be elaborating this system in the format where:-

First degree of any scale would be addressed as “Sa”, second would be Re, third would be Ga, fourht Ma, Fifth ‘Pa’, Sixth ‘Dha’ and Seventh would be ‘Ni’

Hence a RAga corresponding to the Major mode would be

Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa (Upper Octave-) Ascension

Sa, Ni, Dha, Pa, Ma, Ga, Re, Sa(Middle Octave) Descension.

The first set of Six raagas would be arranged in this format:-

1. Sa, Re1, Ga1, Ma1(Natural fourth), Pa(Perfect Fifth ), Dha1, Ni1 Sa(Higher Octave)

Then descent with the same notes.

2. Sa, Re1, Ga1, Ma(nat), Pa(Prfct), Dha1, Ni2, Sa.

Then Descent.

3. Sa, Re1, Ga1, Ma(Natl), Pa(Perfect), Dha1, Ni3 Sa

Then Descent

4. Sa, Re1, Ga1, MA(Natrl), PA(Prfct), Dha2, Ni2, Sa.

Descent..

5. Sa, Re1, Ga1, Ma(Natrl), Pa(prfct), Dha2, Ni3, Sa.

Descent..

6. Sa, Re1,Ga1, Ma(Natrl), Pa(Prfct), Dha3, Ni3, Sa

Descent (

(These Six Raagas are the first of the Six Chakras that have a Natural fourth )

Similarly the second Chakra or group of Six parents Raagas would be :-

7) Sa, Re1, G2, M(Nat), Pa(Prfct), Dha1, Ni1,Sa (Upper octave)

Then Descent..

Sa, Re1.Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni2, Sa.

9) Sa, Re1, Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni3, Sa.

10) Sa, Re1, Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni2, Sa

11) Sa, Re1, Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni3, Sa

12) Sa, Re1, Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha3, Ni3, Sa.

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Third Chakra:-

13) Sa, Re1.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni1, Sa.

14) Sa, Re1.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni2, Sa.

15) Sa, Re1.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni3, Sa.

16) Sa, Re1.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni2, Sa.

17) Sa, Re1.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni3, Sa.

18) Sa, Re1.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha3, Ni3, Sa.

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Next Chakra: (Fourth)

19) Sa, Re2.Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni1, Sa.

20) Sa, Re2.Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni2, Sa.

21) Sa, Re2.Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni3, Sa.

22) Sa, Re2.Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni2, Sa.

23) Sa, Re2.Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni3, Sa.

24) Sa, Re2.Ga2, Ma, Pa, Dha3, Ni3, Sa.

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Next Chakra:- (Fifth)

25) Sa, Re2.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni1, Sa.

26) Sa, Re2.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni2, Sa.

27) Sa, Re2.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni3, Sa.

28) Sa, Re2.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni2, Sa.

29) Sa, Re2.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni3, Sa.

30) Sa, Re2.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha3, Ni3, Sa.

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Last Chakra: (sixth)

31) Sa, Re3.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni1, Sa.

32) Sa, Re3.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni2, Sa

33) Sa, Re3.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha1, Ni3, Sa

34) Sa, Re3.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni2, Sa

35) Sa, Re3.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha2, Ni3, Sa

36) Sa, Re3.Ga3, Ma, Pa, Dha3, Ni3, Sa

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The next 36 are simply in the same order with the Tritone or Sharp fourth instead of the Natural fourth. Thus it completes the 72 Melakarrtaas, each of these Raagas have names, for the Artists to remember them easily than from their numbers or combinations. If anybody needs to know the names of these 72 Raagas, I can print that out as well, for reference.

Regards, Namaste

Jagan Ramamoorthy

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