The Music of Hindostan c15.s1.10

c15.s1.10

The tetrachord E–B. In line 9 this is the usus of the Taittirīyas, confirmed by line 29. In line 16 these same notes are appropriated to the four Ṛgveda accents. Lines 1 and 2 are very difficult because we do not know how to place the three notes of line 2. Aṣṭama (eighth) in a scale of seven notes is surprising. But it will be seen at the foot of the diagram that the scale actually contains eight notes, and it is just conceivable that aṣṭama, which is obviously extra to the accepted seven, names the F♯, which is alternative to the F♮. This leaves sama (level) and śukra (bright) to fill three places; and all that can be said is that atisvārya, the ‘additional’