ALANKARAM
All music students are to study in Abyasa Gaana
lessons ,the important chapter called
“Alankarams”. Alankaram deals with Swara Exercises along with Thalam. This is
called Saptha Thala Alankara.
These are taught in the
following order.
1 Chaturasra Jaathi Druva
Thalam of 14 Aksharas or counts per
Avartha
2 Chaturasra Jaathi Matya
Thalam of 10 Aksharas or Counts per Avartha
3 Chaturasra Jaathi Rupaka
Thalam of 6 Aksharas or Counts per Avartha
4 Misra Jaathi Jampai
Thalam of 10 Aksharas or Counts per Avartha
5 Trisra Jaathi Thriputa Thaalam of 7 Aksharas or Counts per
Avartha
6 Khanda Jaathi Ata Thalam
of 14 Aksharas or Counts per Avartha
7 Chaturasra Jaathi Eka
Thalam 0f 4 Aksharas or Counts per Avartha
At the initial observation one notices that the order
chosen seem to be not following any pattern with respect to Aksharas.[ The number
of Aksharas is the number of counts each Aavartha or one cycle of Thala is takes].
There seem to be a random
selection from the list of 35 Alankaras.
On going through the Famous Navagraha Krithis of
Muthuswami Dikshithar composed in praise of Navagrahas where the order of
Thalas matches with that of the Alakaras taught.
The details of Navagraha Kritis , Navagraha on whom
the Kriti has been composed and its
Raaga and Thaalam are given below.
1 Soorya Moorthe….. on Surya…. Raagam Sowrashtram…..
Thalam CHATURASRA JAATHI DRUVA THALAM
2 Chandram Bhaja… on Chandran…. Raagam Asaaveri…
Thalam CHATURASRA JAATHI MATYA THALAM
3 Angaarakamaasrayamyaham…..on Angarakan
[Chevvai]… Raagam Surati… Thalam CHATURASRA
JAATHI RUPAKA THALAM
4 Bhudamaasrayami…..on Bhuda……Raagam Natakuranji….. Thalam MISRA JAATHI JAMPAI THALAM.
5 Bruhaspathe…… on Guru [Viyazan]…. Raagam Ataana…. Thalam TRISRA JAATHI THRIPUTA THALAM
6 Sri Sukra
bhagavantham.. on Sukran…. Ragam Paras
Thalam KHANDA JAATH ATA THALAM
7 Divaakara Thanujam…on Saniswaran… Raagam
Yedukula Kaamboji … Thalam CHATURASRA
EKA THALAM.
This completes the list of Thalas of Sapthathala
Alankaras under discussion by going through the above list.
Since adhering to Sampradaya [tradition] is a
prerequisite in learning fine arts , the above list is being followed with
sanctity.
Regarding Raagu and Keethu Grahas Muthuswami
dikshithar composed Krithis as below but the Thalaas has already been covered
in the above list of Saptha thaala Alankaras
8 Smaraamyaham….on Raahu…… Raagam
Ramaa Manohari…… Thalam Rupakam
9 Mahasuram
Kethumaham….. on Kethu…….. Raagam Saamaram …. Thalam Rupakam.
ALANKARAS IN VARIOUS RAGAS
It will be beneficial for
Carnatic Music students to practice Saptha Thala Alankaras in the following
Ragas and can try in more Sampoorna
Ragas as well:
1 Sahankarabaranam
2 Kalyani
3 Panthuvarali
4 Karaharapriya
5 Simhendramadyamam
Also, it will beneficial
for Carnatic Music students to practice Saptha Thala Alankaras in the following
Ragas as well:
1 Mohnam
2 Sudda Saveri
While practicing Alankaras
in various Ragas, care must be taken that the Swaras are to be rendered with appropriate
Gamakas and other decorating Angas , so that the respective Ragaswaroopas are
highlighted.
There is another practice of learning Alankaras in ascending order of the Akshara kalas.
