Ragas and Raginis: A Pictorial and Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources c5.2

c5.2

The starting note (*graha*) and the terminating note (*nyāsa*) have now almost lost their significance. But the *amśa* (predominant note) is of great importance. It is also called the *vādī* (lit. the speaker, or announcer) *i.e.* the note which indicates, manifests, or expresses the peculiar character of the rāga, and receives the greatest emphasis in the structure of the rāga. It is also called the *jīva*, or the soul of the rāga. Just as the *vādī* note determines the general character of a rāga, the *vivādī*, or the dissonant note, distinguishes and differentiates it from other forms of rāgas, by avoidance of the *vivādī* note. For, this dissonant note destroys the character of the melody. The *vivādī* note gives the negative element, and, the other three, the positive determining elements of a rāga.² Every rāga has its special