Naad...Shruti...Swara....Base Concepts of Music

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Base of all music is sound and this sound only creates Swara so its important to understand the importance of this sound......so "Naad" it is.

नादाधीनमतोजगत ।

Swara originates from Naad (नाद) which means voice or sound. Naad is believed to be the integral part of life and the world. The entire world is subject to sound. Naad is present in five key elements - Earth, water, fire, air and sky, etc. Because of this importance of Naad, its also called “Naad Brahma” (नाद ब्रह्म). This sound is produced by the coordination of vital air and fire in the human body. There are 2 types of Naad- Ahad (अहद) and Anahad (अनाहद).

In yogic terminology there are two kinds of sounds in the Universe, Ahad sounds and Anahad sounds. Ahad sounds are sounds created by something striking something else. If I pluck the “A” string of my guitar, it will vibrate 440 times per second, creating a vibration in the surrounding air that transfers that exact vibratory rate into the surrounding environment. That is an Ahad sound. The wind blowing through the trees, the breath striking the vocal chords and mouth—these are Ahad sounds. Ahad sound vibration must travel through matter, because these sound vibrations are transmitted through the movement of molecular structures. Anahad literally means the un-s truck melody. In yogic cosmology and science it is said that the Universe is made of sound. All matter is vibrating at certain frequencies. Rocks and stones have a very slow and low frequency. Color and light have a high frequency and can travel through the vacuum of space. Beyond all physical phenomena and matter is the primal creative sound vibration that began the creation. In Christianity it is called The Word. Sikhs call it the Naad. It is what scientists call “Cosmic radiation”—the constantly creative sound left over from the Big Bang. Yogis call it Anahad. Whatever one calls it, it is constantly vibrating, creating, and expanding the Universe—infinitely, endlessly. 
(Ref: The Unstruck Melody: Understanding the Science of Naad Yoga By Mata Mandir Singh.)
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​The Naad that is worthy of music is called Shruti (श्रुति)। In Indian Music there are 22 music worthy Naad in between one tone and its double high tone which are called Shruti. Between these 2 elevations, there are seven pure Swara on certain shrutis. 
Swara is a sanskrit word that means a note in the octave. In Indian Classical Music there are 7 Swara “Sa”, “Re”, “Ga”, Ma”, “Pa”, “Dha” and “Ni” and collectively they are called “Sargam”. .
There are many versions of origin of Swaras of Indian Classical Music ....but my inclination is to the theory where the Swaras trace back to nature and are believed to originate from sounds of various birds and animals.
 
षड्जं वदति मयूरो, गावो रंभन्ति  चर्षभम्  ।
अजाविकेतु गान्धारं क्रोंचो वदति मध्यमम् ।।
पुष्पसाधारणे काले कोकिला वक्ती पंचमम् ।
अश्वस्तु धैवतं वक्ती निषादं वक्ती कुञ्जरः।।

“Sa”- This series begins with the first Swara of Indian Classical Music “Sa” or “Shadaj” which is believed to originate from the sound of peacock.
“Re”- is the second Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Re” or “Rishabh” which is believed to originate from the sound of a raging bull.
“Ga”- is the third Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Ga” or “Gandhar” is believed to originate from the sound of a bleating goat.
“Ma”- is the fourth Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Ma” or “Madhyam” is believed to originate from the sound of a crying heron.
“Pa”- is the fifth Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Pa” or “Pancham” is believed to originate from the sound of a singing Koyal bird.
“Dha” is the sixth Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Dha” or “Dhaiwat” is believed to originate from the sound of neighing of a horse
“Ni” is the seventh and last Swara of Indian Classical Music. “Ni” or “Nishad” is believed to originate from the trumpeting of an elephant.

We will learn more about Swara and their significance in Indian Classical Music in the other sections.

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