Ragas and Raginis: A Pictorial and Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources c6.223

c6.223

But the most important contribution of Rāṇā-Kumbha—is the view which appears to be propounded in this work, namely, that each rāga has its appropriate time-measure (tāla) which brings out the genius of the rāga in its characteristic qualities.¹ As the author seems to suggest that it is the time-measure which gives the true interpretation of a rāga (“tālo varṇayati rasaḥ”), it is the time-measure which reveals its real flavour (“tālo varṇayati rasaḥ”). It does not follow that a rāga can only be interpreted in a fixed time-measure, but what is intended to be suggested that particular rāgas receive the happiest interpretation and expression in particular time-measures.