[INDOLOGY] A new work monograph on "The Doctrine of Shruti in Indian Music" by Prof. Vinod Vidwans

[Nagaraj Paturi]

Prof. Vinod Vidwans , Professor and Chair, School of Fine and Performing
Arts, FLAME University, Pune, India has come out with his new work a
monograph entitled "The Doctrine of Shruti in Indian Music" .

Here is the conclusion part of the work:

This monograph concludes with five important insights about the concept of
*shruti* in Indian music. Firstly, it provides clarity about the five types
of *shrutis* mentioned in *Naradiya Shiksha* and their applications.
Secondly, the monograph conclusively proves that Bharata’s octave has
strong foundations in Vedic *swaras* that eventually resulted in twenty two
*shrutis*. Thirdly, the monograph conclusively establishes Bharata’s
paradigm of equal temperament twenty two *shrutis* with thorough analysis
of Bharata’s original text from *Natyashastra*. Bharata’s *`Shruti
Nidarshanam’* experiment as thoroughly discussed is a conclusive proof of
the equal temperament twenty two *shrutis*. This also tells a musician, how
to establish *shrutis* on *Veena* and perceive them in a step-by-step
manner. Fourthly, an attempt has been made to integrate Narada’s paradigm
of *shrutis* with Bharata’s paradigm of *shrutis*. Each of Bharata’s
*shruti* is considered as a cluster called *Shruti-Punja* or *Shruti Megha*.
Every such cluster is divided into five types mentioned in *Naradiya
Shiksha* to fine-tune Bharata’s paradigm. Finally, this monograph attempts
to accommodate the latest findings of the empirical and computational
research in the above-mentioned *Shruti Punja* model.



Other important conclusions of this monograph are as follows.

Bharata’s paradigm is completely different from *Naradiya Shiksha*.
For *Naradiya
Shiksha, shrutis* are sonar qualities of a Vedic *swara* while for Bharata
*shrutis* are twenty two microtones or distinct places equally distributed
(having equal temperament) across the octave. Thus *shrutis* have physical
existence and in modern times can be understood in terms of their frequency
values. *Shrutis* are not merely mental concepts. Bharata gives highly
sophisticated *Shruti-Nidarshanam* or *Sarana-Chatushtaya* experiment to
experience and demonstrate twenty two *shruti* that conclusively
demonstrates the existence of equal temperament twenty two *shrutis*. The
present monograph also developed a different variation of the *Shruti
Nidarshanam* experiment as discussed. Computational simulation of the
*`Shruti-Nidarshanam’* experiment has helped to clarify many concepts more
conclusively. It suggests that computational approach towards musical
research is worth exploring and fulfilling at the end.

This monograph puts forth two types of arguments: a stronger or primary
argument and few secondary arguments. The stronger argument is based on the
critical analysis of Bharata’s original Sanskrit text from *Natyashastra*
and then the analysis of the *`Shruti Nidarshanam’* experiment as a
confirmatory proof of equal temperament twenty two *shrutis*. This stronger
argument is the crux of this monograph while other arguments are
supplementary in nature.

Apart from the stronger argument, this monograph provides a step-by-step
method of establishing *swaras* in an octave (*swara-sthapana* or *swara
mandala sadhanam*) based on the original text of Bharata. This was not
attempted in any other earlier studies. This is another original
contribution of this monograph.

Computer simulation of *`Shruti Nidarshanam’* experiment and further
analysis help in re-establishing Bharata’s paradigm. This led to the
development of a *`Shruti-Punja’* or *`Shruti-Megha’* frame-work of equal
temperament hundred and ten microtones in an octave.

This monograph attempted to argue that Bharata’s paradigm is very robust
and highly relevant for Indian music in modern times. With the help of
advanced computational technology it can help exploring newer possibilities
to enrich Indian music.


Those interested in the full work may contact me offline. I shall send the
pdf.

-- 
Nagaraj Paturi

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.

Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies

FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of  Liberal Education,

(Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA )


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