Notation and Swaralipi
Conventions to memorise
- Swaras are written S R G M P D N, with variants numbered R1 R2 R3, G1 G2 G3, M1 M2, D1 D2 D3, N1 N2 N3.
- A dot above a swara raises it to tara sthayi; a dot below drops it to mandra sthayi. The dot is not decoration; it changes the note.
- Each avarta is closed by a vertical bar, and the composition ends with a double bar.
- A karvai (elongation) is shown by a comma or a dash and still occupies one akshara. Never treat it as free space.
- Sahitya is written below the swara line, syllable under note.
- Sangathis are numbered so that each variation of a line is learnt in order.
Worked example
Notate the first sarali varisai in Mayamalavagowla, Adi tala. Reasoning: Adi tala holds eight aksharas per avarta, and the ascent has seven swaras plus the upper Sa, that is eight aksharas. So the first avarta reads S R1 G3 M1 | P D1 N3 S (upper Sa), and the descent S N3 D1 P | M1 G3 R1 S fills the second avarta. One swara per akshara, two bars per line.
Traps that cost marks
- Placing the bar after four aksharas in Adi tala instead of after eight.
- Writing an upper Sa without its dot, which silently changes the phrase.
- Forgetting that a comma or dash consumes a beat, so the line overruns the avarta.
- Mixing variant systems in one answer, for example R2 in one line and chatusruti rishabha in the next without linking them.