Swara Meanings
Each shuddha swara (i.e., Sa, Re/Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha/Da, and Ni) is traditionally held to have originated in the sound of a different animal, and some have additional meanings of their own. Also, each swara is associated with one of the seven chakras of the body. Just as the swaras ascend through the saptak, so they are mapped onto the chakras in the body in ascending order. Komal notes are associated with the left side of each chakra; the left channel, Ida Nadi, is the side of emotion and intuition. Shuddha and tivra notes are associated with the right side; the right channel, Pingala Nadi, is the side of logic. Ragas, therefore, have more or less of an effect on a given chakra depending on the notes they contain.
| Swara | Sanskrit Expansion | Meaning | Animal | Chakra | God |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sa | Shadja (षड्जं) | Sagar (ocean) | peacock | mūlādhāra मूलाधार ([base of spine) | Ganapati |
| Re | Rishabha (ऋषभ) | Aparajit | skylark | svādhiṣṭhāna स्वाधिष्ठान (genitals) | Agni |
| Ga | Gandhara (गान्धारं) | Gagan (sky) | goat | maṇipūra मणिपूर (solar plexus and navel) | Rudra (Shiva) |
| Ma | Madhyama (मध्यमं) | middle | dove/heron | anāhata अनाहत (heart) | Vishnu |
| Pa | Panchama (पंचमं) | fifth | cuckoo/nightingale | viśuddha विशुद्ध (throat) | Naarada |
| Dha | Dhaivata (धैवतं) | Dharti (earth) | horse | ājñā आज्ञा (third eye) | Sadasiva |
| Ni | Nishadam (निषादं) | outcast/hunter | elephant | sahasrāra सहस्रार (crown of the head) | Surya (Sun) |
In certain forms of Indian classical music and qawwali, when a rapid 16th note sequence of the same note is sung, different syllables may be used in a certain sequence to make the whole easier to pronounce. For example, instead of "sa-sa-sa-sa-sa-sa-sa-sa" said very quickly, it might be "sa-da-da-li-sa-da-da-li" which lends itself more to a quick and light tongue movement.
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