Lesson 5 – Thalas

THALAS

The following are the Six Angas in Thalas

1. Anudhrutham – Having one beat with a duration of one Akshara kala, and its symbol  is   ͜͜   .
2. Dhrutham – Having one beat and  a waving of the hand with a duration of Two Akshara kala, and its symbol is O.
3. Laghu – Having a beat and Three finger counts, commencing from the small finger, with a duration of four Akshara kala, and its symbol is ׀.
4. Guru – Having  a duration of Eight Akshara kala, and its symbol is 8.
5. Plutham – Having a duration of Twelve Akshara kala, and its symbol is 8.
6. Kākā Pādham – Having a duration of Sixteen Akshara kala, and its symbol is +.

There are Seven Varieties of Thalas, called Saptha Thalas.

Saptha Thalas and their Angas.

1. Dhruva Thalam – 1 0 1 1
2. Matya Thalam – 1 0 1
3. Rūpaka Thalam – 0 1
4. Jhampa Thalam – 1 ͜ 0
5. Thriputa Thalam – 1 0 0
6. Ata Thalam – 1 1 0 0
7. Eka Thalam – 1

There are Five varieties in Jāthis and they relate to only Laghu as follows.

1. Thisra Jathi Laghu – Contains 3 Aksharas.
2. Chathurasra Jathi Laghu – Contains 4 Aksharas.
3. Khanda Jathi Laghu – Contains 5 Aksharas.
4. Misra Jathi Laghu – Contains 7 Aksharas.
5. Sankeerna Jathi Laghu  – Contains 9 Aksharas.

Usually Laghu represents only Chathurasra Jathi .

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