[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [Ragas and Raginis: A Pictorial and Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935) › c6.51 # Ragas and Raginis: A Pictorial and Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources c6.51 Rāgas and Rāginīs: A Pictorial and Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources c6.51 - **Language:** English ### [c6.51](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c6.51) Matanga regards \*rāgas\* as one of the seven classes of songs (\*gītis\*) current in his time. He cites Yāṣṭika, an earlier authority, according to whom the \*gītis\* were of five classes: \*śuddha\*, \*bhinna\*, \*vesara\*, \*gauḍa\*, and \*sādhārita\*. At the time of Matanga, the \*gītis\* were of seven varieties.² (1) \*śuddha\* (2) \*bhinnaka\* (3) \*gauḍika\* (4) \*rāga-gīti\* (5) \*sādhāraṇī\* (6) \*bhāṣā-gīti\* (7) \*vibhāṣā-gītis\*. The \*rāga-gītis\* are fourth in Matanga’s list (\*rāga-gītis-caturthikā\*). He defines the various classes of \*gītis\*, and describes \*rāga-gītis\* as follows: “Attractive note compositions, with beautiful and illuminating graces are known as \*rāga-gītis\*. Where the four \*varṇas\* (probably the four characters of values of duration, ascent, descent, and movement) are met with in - [Previous: c6.50](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c6.50) - [Next: c6.52](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c6.52) - [Up: c6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c6) ## Cites (1) - [Bṛhaddeśī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.sangita.prachina.brhaddesi) — Mataṅga, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c6.51](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c6.51) · Pramāṇa