0Present system of teaching Carnatic music dates back to the Era of Purandara Dasar, who is known as "Karnataka Sangeetha Pithamaha."
Starting with SARALI SWARAS is the first chapter in traditional way of teaching Carnatic music. This chapter is intended for preliminary exercises in SAPTA SWARAS or Seven notes, sa,ri ga ma pa dha ni - corresponding to the Western OCTAVE (group of eighy Notes) (sa ri ga ma pa dha ni and Sa of higher Octave to complete the scale from Fundamental to first harmonic).
SARAL means straight, simple or easy. SWARAs means Notes. SWARA is defined as the sound which pleasant to the mind of the listener (this pleasantness is due to the samavitwa of notes, which will be explained later). The designation sa, ri etc is short cut for the full form - Shadja, Rishabha, Gandhara, Madhyama, Panchama, Dhaivata and Nishada. Carnatic, or so to say Indian Music is Melodic in nature (differing from its Western counter part which is Harmonic).
