Prescribed Talas: Theory and Practical
This domain tests both recitation and hand practice of the talas in your syllabus. You should be able to state matras, vibhags, tali, khali and sam, recite the theka, and show layakari without breaking the cycle.
Core rules
- Teental: 16 matras, 4+4+4+4; tali 1, 5, 13; khali 9.
- Jhaptal: 10 matras, 2+3+2+3; tali 1, 3, 8; khali 6.
- Ektal: 12 matras, six vibhags of 2; tali 1, 5, 9, 11; khali 3, 7.
- Rupak: 7 matras, 3+2+2; khali on 1, tali 4 and 6. Sam is khali here, which surprises many candidates.
- Dadra: 6 matras, 3+3; tali 1, khali 4. Keharwa: 8 matras, 4+4; tali 1, khali 5.
- Chautal: 12 matras, six vibhags of 2; tali 1, 5, 9, 11; khali 3, 7. Dhamar: 14 matras, 5+2+3+4; tali 1, 6, 11; khali 8.
Worked example
Recite one Jhaptal avartan: dhi na | dhi dhi na | ti na | dhi dhi na. Count 1 to 10. Tali falls on 1, 3 and 8; khali on 6. The vibhags are 2, 3, 2 and 3 matras. Reasoning: theka bols must fit the vibhag lengths, and khali is shown by a wave at matra 6, not by stopping the recitation.
Traps
- Marking khali on 1 in Jhaptal; that is Rupak's pattern.
- Counting Jhaptal as 3+3+4 instead of 2+3+2+3.
- Forgetting that Rupak's sam is khali.
- Reciting theka correctly but giving wrong tali/khali numbers in theory.