pallavi terminology

[mohan]

I noticed in the Carnatic idol competition some participants were consfused by the terminology used by the judges, especially when it came to elements of the (ragam tanam) pallavi.

There is a big and useful glossary of Carnatic terms at http://www.karnatik.com/glossary.shtml but I was wondering if there is somewhere that clearly defines words that are used to denote elements of a pallavi or pallavi singing. If such a list existed, it would be useful to students and rasikas alike.

Some of the terms which come to mind are:

purvanga
uttaranga
atitha
anagata graha
padagarbham
arudhi
eduppu
rattai
trikalam
gattibhedham
anuloma
pratiloma
viloma
kriya
aksharas
matras

There are probably many more. I know some of these terms have been defined in these pages in other threads but it would be great if they can all be compiled into one source.

[vasanthakokilam]

Good idea Mohan. As people provide the content, please keep your post above updated with the latest info, so we have it all in one clutter free place. Thanks.

[cmlover]

I second VK's views. Let the experts in our forum discuss these terms and we can create a 'concensus' definition of these terms that will be a guide to all new Comers to CM.

[PUNARVASU]

Good idea. If made available in alphabetical order it will be nice(if there are many).

[mannari]

dear sirs, you may add " Haasu" " keelkaala" and "Melkaala" as few more pallavi terminologies

[sruthi]

There is a wiki entry on RTP that could also provide some info - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragam_Thanam_Pallavi

Perhaps someone could update this wiki page once they have collated the details here.

[vasanthakokilam]

OK folks, let us start providing easy to understand and clear definitions, possibly with examples.

[vasanthakokilam]

Here is my first cut at illustrating some of the laya terminology pictorially. Please point out mistakes and suggest corrections and enhancements.. I will incorporate and update the picture. ( EDIT: I have enlarged it a bit now. )

[Nick H]

It does look too small, and I cannot read all the text even by enlarging the page. It looks useful!

[vasanthakokilam]

Sowkyam related posts moved to a new thread: http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic. ... 05#p196905

[mohan]

sama/samam: the first beat of the tAla cycle
Eduppu: the commencing or take off point of the pallavi
sama Eduppu: where the pallavi commences exactly on the first beat of the tAla cycle
atIta Eduppu: where the pallavi commences before the first beat of the tAla cycle
anagAta Eduppu: where the pallavi commences after the first beat of the tAla cycle

[mahavishnu]

VK, very useful diagram. Thank you.

[mohan]

Here are some more terms which I have tried defining.

kuRaippu: reducing structure
korvai: final cadential structure
Avartanam: cycle (a single cycle of the tAla)
akshara: beat (one avartanam has several aksharas depending on the tAla)
naDai: subdivision of the akshara/beat (eg. tisra nadai (3) or khanda nadai (5))
mAtra: unit (one akshara is made of several mAtras depending on the nadai)
trikAlam: three speeds

[vs_manjunath]

Very interesting thread providing very useful info.

[mohan]

Hopefully others can add to or modify the definitions I have provided. A few more:

purvAnga: the first half of the pallavi comprising the lyrics from the eduppu to the arudhi
uttarAnga: the second half of the pallavi comprising the lyrics from after the arudhi to the eduppu

[mohan]

Here is an old discussion on anulolam and pratilolam http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4457
However, I couldn't find a clear, tight definition for either of these there.

[arasi]

Thank you Mohan! Such clear definitions.
May I ask you to change koraippu to kuRaippu? (as in kuRaivu)--decreasing? We can avoid such spelling which are alterations seen in spoken spoken language (tamizh abounds with them).
Avartanam, naDai too.

[mohan]

Thanks arasi for the corrections - having grown up outside India, my Indian language skills are very poor!

[sruthi]

Avartanam, naDai too.

Shouldn't it be AvaRtanam? Also kORvai

[arasi]

Sruthi,
Not really.

[mohan]

vk - what does 'graha' mean? I am not familiar with that term is it the same as Eduppu?

[vasanthakokilam]

Mohan, Yes, that is my understanding. At least, that is what I assumed when I put together the diagram in post #8. I think in general it means something like 'Starting'. ( like grahaswara to refer to the starting swara that we find in the SSP )

EDIT: Checked Monier-Williams. Out of the many different meanings, there is one: "the beginning of any piece of music". I do not quite understand how this and the various meanings ( Planet, house, seizing/grasping, ) are related or derivable from its root.

[mohan]

http://sanjaysub.blogspot.com/2011/06/r ... -some.html