Alapana is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga (musical scale)

in Indian classical music. As a term that is Sanskrit in language, alapana means "to speak,
address, discourse, communicate". The flavor of the raga is outlined in the alapana by rendering
the raga's permitted notes in structures and phrases unique to the raga (known as "raga
lakshanam"). Alapana typically precedes a song that is going to be sung in the same raga.

Alapana is rendered in different speeds, with a gradual increase in tempo. Likewise, the
complexity of the patterns increases steadily as the alapana progresses.

Alapana is divided into three parts:

 Akshipthika
 Ragavardhini
 Magarini

Javalis ….. in the book

Thilana …… in the book ‘

Notes are saptha swaras and scales are

1 krshyai - Has 4 aksharams and is represented by waving the hand towards left.
2) 1 sarpini - Has 4 aksharams and is represented by waving the hand towards right.
3) 1 pathakam - Has 4 aksharams and is represented by raising the hand vertically.
4) Viramam - A single akshara part.

Now, let us understand the other three angas/parts of Talam.

1) 1 Guru - 1 beat and counting 7 fingers equaling to 8 aksharams
2) 1 Plutham - 1 guru + 1 krshyai + 1 sarpini equaling to 12 aksharams
3) 1 Kakapadam - 1 guru+ 1 krshyai + 1 sarpini + 1 pathakam equalling to 16 aksharams.

(The symbols for all the above 3 angas are in the table discussed below.)

We now know all the six parts/ angas of the Talams. These six angas are called the Shadangams of
Talam. When we add the viramam to all the six angas, we get sixteen parts of Talam called
Shodasangams.
Anga name Symbol Aksharakaalas Movement
Anudhrutam U 1 beat with palm
Dhrutam 0 2 beat with palm + turn (wave)
Dhruta viramam U0 3 (2 + 1) dhrutam + anudhrutam
Laghu | 4 (or 3, 5, 7, 9) beat + finger counts
Laghu viramam U| 5 (4 + 1) laghu + anudhrutam
Laghu dhrutam 0| 6 (4 + 2) laghu + dhrutam
Laghudhruta viramam U0| 7 (4 + 2 + 1) laghu + dhrutam + anudhrutam
wave to left and right or circle with
Guru 8 8
thumb-up
Guru viramam U8 8 (8 + 1) guru + anudhrutam
Guru dhrutam 08 10 (8 + 2) guru + dhrutam
Gurudhruta viramam U08 11 (8 + 2 + 1) guru + dhrutam + anudhrutam
1 guru +1 kryshya + 1 sarpini - each of 4
Plutham |8 12 (8 + 4)
aksharakalas
Plutha viramam U|8 13 (12 + 1) plutam + anudhrutam
Plutha dhrutam 0|8 14 (12 + 2) plutam + dhrutam
Plutha dhruta viramam U0|8 15 (12 + 2 + 1) plutam + dhrutam + anudhrutam
1 guru +1 patakam + 1 kryshya + 1
Kaakapaadam + 16
sarpini - each of 4 aksharakalas