[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) › c9.3 # Ragas and Raginis: A Pictorial and Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources c9.3 Rāgas and Rāginīs: A Pictorial and Iconographic Study of Indian Musical Modes Based on Original Sources c9.3 - **Language:** English ### [c9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c9.3) According to the doctrine, it is believed that the presiding deity,—the spirit⁴, or ethos of a rāga or rāgiṇī can be induced to come down and incarnate (\*avatīrṇa\*—lit. 'made to descend') in its physical sound-form (\*nāda-maya-rūpa\*). If the presiding spirit cannot be induced 'to descend', the rendering, or interpreting of that particular melody cannot be pronounced to have been successfully achieved. A successful interpreter of a particular melody is complimented with the phrase that he has succeeded in persuading the deity of the rāga or rāgiṇī to descend (\*avatīrṇa\*) and to reveal its visual image or picture (\*tasvīr\*), and to live in his vocal song, or his instrument of performance. No amount of - [Previous: c9.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c9.2) - [Next: c9.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c9.4) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.gangoly-1935.c9.3) · Pramāṇa