The Music of Hindostan c11.72

c11.72

In most Rāgs, even if heptatonic (sampūrṇa), there is still a feeling that some notes are strong (balin) and others weak (alpa), and these weak spots tend to be negotiated in this ‘crooked’ (vakra) way. And if the Rāgs are actually transilient (varja) they are apt to be vakra in ascent, and to have the gap filled in descent—rather than the other way. So that to turn ascent (ārohaṇa) into descent (avārohaṇa), or vice versa, would be completely to falsify the Rāg. Other answers to the ‘frivolous’ person could be made on the grounds of Time and of Form (see Chapters VIII and XI).