Word

Svarasthana

Sanskrit

स्वारस्थान

IAST

svāra sthāna

In General

Svarasthanas are frequency position in an octave or we can say tone in recitation. The sapthasvaras or the 7 notes of Indian music system Sa Ri Gs Ms Ps Dha, Ni are further developed into 12 notes to get a uniform pattern of frequency. The 12 notes are seven natural notes Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni and additional 5 notes of Ri, Ga, Ma, Dha, Ni, which are the harmonics of the natural notes. Sa and Pa are permanent notes or landing notes in a song which do not have any harmonics. Distance between any two of these 12 notes that are next to each other is a half step and distance between two half step is a full step.