In Carnatic music each pulse count is called an aksharam or a kriyā, the interval between each being equal, though capable of division into faster matras or svaras, the fundamental unit of time. The tala is defined by the number and arrangement of aksharams inside an avartanam. There are three sub-patterns of beats into which all talas are divided; laghu, dhrutam and anudhrutam.
A dhrutam is a pattern of 2 beats. This is notated 'O'.
An anudhrutam is a single beat, notated 'U'.
A laghu is a pattern with a variable number of beats, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 9, depending upon the type of the tala. It is notated '1'. The number of matras in an aksharam is called the nadai or gati. This number can be 3, 4, 5, 7 or 9, and these types are respectively called Tisra, Chatusra, Khanda, Misra and Sankeerna. The default nadai is Chatusram:
Jati Aksharams in laghu
Tisra 3
Chatusra 4
Khanda 5
Misra 7
Sankeerna 9
The seven families are:
Tala Description of Default length of Total Aksharas avartanam laghu
Dhruva 1O11 4 14
Matya 1O1 4 10
Rupaka O1 4 6 Jhampa 1UO 7 10
Triputa 1OO 3 7
Ata 11OO 5 14
Eka 1 4 4For instance one avartanam of Khanda-jati Rupaka tala comprises a 2-beat dhrutam followed by a 5-beat laghu. An avartanam is thus 7 aksharams long. With all possible combinations of tala types and laghu lengths, there are 5 x 7 = 35 talas having lengths ranging from 3 (Tisra-jati Eka) to 29 (sankeerna-jati Dhruva) aksharams. Chatusra-gati Khanda-jaati Rupaka tala has 7 aksharam, each of which is 4 matras long; each avartanam of the tala is 4 x 7 = 28 matras long. For Misra-gati Khanda-jati Rupaka tala, it would be 7 x 7 = 49 matra.
In practice, only a few talas have compositions set to them. As in the table above, each variety of tala has a default family associated with it; the variety mentioned without qualification refers to the default. For instance, Jhampa tala is Misra-jati Jhampa tala [1].
The most common tala is Chatusra-nadai Chatusra-jaati Triputa tala, also called Adi tala (Adi meaning primordial in Sanskrit). From the above tables, this tala has eight aksharams, each being 4 svarams long. Many krtis and around half of the varnams are set to this tala. Other common talas include:
Chatusra-nadai Chatusra-jaati Rupaka tala (or simply Rupaka tala) [1]. A large body of krtis is set to this tala.
Khanda Chapu (a 10-count) and Misra Chapu (a 14-count), both of which do not fit very well into the suladi sapta tala scheme. Many padams are set to Misra Chapu, while there are also krtis set to both the above talas.
Chatusra-nadai Khanda-jati Ata tala (or simply Ata tala) [1]. Around half of the varnams are set to this tala.
Tisra-nadai Chatusra-jati Triputa tala (Adi Tala Tisra-Nadai) [1]. A few fast-paced kritis are set to this tala. Note that, as this tala is a twenty-four beat cycle, compositions in this tala theoretically can, and sometimes are, sung in rupaka tala.
Sometimes, pallavis are sung as part of a Ragam Thanam Pallavi exposition in some of the rarer, more complicated talas; such pallavis, if sung in a non-Chatusra-nadai tala, are called nadai pallavis. In addition, pallavis are often sung in chauka kale(slowing the tala cycle by a magnitude of four times), although this trend seems to be slowing.
Eduppu or Start point
Compositions do not always begin on the first beat of the tala: it may be offset by a certain number of matras or aksharas or combination of both to suit the words of the composition. The word Talli, used to describe this offset, is from Dravidian and literally means "shift". A composition may also start on one of the last few matras of the previous avartanam. This is called Ateeta Eduppu.
Rarer Carnatic talas
Other than these 35 talas there are 108 so-called anga talas. The following is the exhaustive pattern of beats used in constructing them.
Anga Symbol Aksharakala Mode of Counting
Anudrutam U 1 1beat
Druta O 2 1 beat + Visarijitam (wave of hand)
Druta-virama (OU) 3
Laghu(Chatusra-jati) l 4 1 beat + 3 finger count
Laghu-virama U) 5
Laghu-druta O) 6
Laghu-druta-virama OU) 7
Guru 8 8 A beat followed by circular movement of the right hand in the clockwise direction with closed fingers.
Guru-virama (8U) 9
Guru-druta (8O) 10
Guru-druta-virama (8OU) 11
Plutam ) 12 1 beat + kryshya (waving the right hand from right to left) + 1 sarpining waving the right hand from left to right)-each of 4 aksharakalas OR a Guru followed by the hand waving downwards
Pluta-virana U) 13
Pluta-druta O) 14
Pluta-druta-virama OU) 15
Kakapadam + 16 1 beat + patakam (lifting the right hand) + kryshya +sarpini - each of 4 aksharakalas)
Compositions are rare in these lengthy talas. They are mostly used in performing the Pallavi of Ragam Thanam Pallavis. Some examples of anga talas are:
Simhanandana tala : It is the longest tala.8 8 l ) l 8 O O 8 8 l ) l ) 8 l l +
Another type of tala is the chhanda tala. These are talas set to the lyrics of the Thirupugazh by the Tamil composer Arunagirinathar. He is said to have written 16000 hyms each in a different chhanda tala. Of these, only 1500-2000 are available.
Ashtotharashata Thala
The first five talas are called Margi Talas or Pancha Talas - means the laghu has 5 aksharaas instead of four.
Name of the Tala Angas Total Aksharas
Chachchatputa 2-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 33
Chaachaputa 1-Guru,2-Laghus,1-Guru 26
Shatpitaputrika 1-Pluta,1-Laghu,2-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 50
Sampadveshtaka 1-Pluta,3-Gurus,1-Pluta 48
Udghatta 3-Gurus 24
Adi 1-Laghu 4
Darpana 2-Dhrutas,1-Guru 12
Charchaari 2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta,1-Laghu, 2-Dhrutas, 1-Anudhruta,1-Laghu, 2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta, 1-Laghu, 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta, 72 1-Laghu, 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta, 1-Laghu, 2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta,1-Laghu
Shimhalilaa 1-Laghu,3-Dhrutas,1-Laghu 14
Kandarpa 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,2-Gurus 24
Simhavikrama 3-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Pluta,1-Laghu, 1-Guru,1-Pluta 64
Sriranga 2-Laghus,1-Guru,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 32
Rati Lila 1-Laghu,2-Gurus,1-Laghu 24
Ranga Tala 4-Dhrutas,1-Guru 16
Parikramaa 3-Laghus,2-Gurus 28
Pratyanga 3-Gurus,2-Laghus 24
Gaja Lila 4-Laghus,1-Anudhruta 17
Tribhinna 1-Laghu,1-Guru,1-Pluta 24
Viravikrama 1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Guru 16
Hamsa Lila 2-Laghus,1-Anudhruta 9
Varnabhina 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,1-Guru 16
Rangadyotana 3-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 40
Rajachudamani 2-Dhrutas,3-Laghus,2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu, 1-Guru 32
Raja Tala 1-Guru,1-Pluta,2-Dhrutas,1-Guru,1-Laghu, 1-pluta 48
Simhavikridita 2-Laghus,1-Pluta,1-Guru,1-Laghu, 1-Guru, 1-Pluta,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 68
Vanamaali 4-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Guru 24
Chatusra Varna 2-Gurus,1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Guru 32
Traysra Varna 1-Laghu,20Dhrutas,2-Laghus,1-Guru 24
Misra Varna 4-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta,4-Dhrutas, 1-Anudhruta,4-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 27
Ramgapradipa 2-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Guru,1-Pluta 40
Hamsanaada 2-Laghus,1-Pluta,2-Dhrutas,1-Guru 32
Simbanaada 1-Laghu,2-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Guru 32
Mallikaamoda 2-Laghus,4-Dhrutas 16
Sarabba Lila 2-Laghus,3-Dhrutas,2-Laghus 22
Rangaabharana 2-Gurus,2-Laghus,1-Pluta 36
Turanga Lila 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu 8
Simhanandana (The Longest Tala in 2-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Pluta,1-Laghu, 108 Tala Scheme) 1-Guru,2-Dhrutas,2-Gurus,1-Laghu, 128 1-Pluta,1-Laghu,1-Pluta,1Guru,2-Laghus, 1-kakapada 128
Jayasri 2-Gurus,2-Laghus,1-Guru 32
Vijayaananda 2-Laghus,3-Gurus 32
Prati Tala 1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas 8
Dvitiya 1-Dhruta,1-Laghu,1-Dhruta 8
Maakaranda 2-Dhrutas,3-Laghus,1-Guru 24
Kirti 1-Guru,1-Laghu,1-Pluta,1-Guru, 1-Laghu,1-Guru 48
Vijaya 3-Gurus,1-Laghu,1-Guru 36
Jayamangala 1-Laghu,1-Guru,1-Pluta,1-Laghu, 1-Guru,1-Pluta 48
Raajavidyaadhara 1-Laghu,1-Guru,2-Dhrutas 16
Mathya 2-Laghus,1-Guru,4-Laghus 32
Jaya 1-Laghu,1-Guru,2-Laghus,2-Dhrutas 32
Kudukka 2-Dhrutas,2-Laghus 12
Nissaaruka 1-Laghu,2-Gurus 20
Kreeda 2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 5
Tribhangi 1-Laghu,1-Guru,1-Laghu,1-Guru 24
Kokilapriya 1-Guru,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 24
Srikeerthi 2-Gurus,2-Laghus 24
Bindumaali 1-Guru,4-Dhrutas,1-Guru 24
Sama Tala 2-Laghus,2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 13
Nandana 1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Pluta 20
Udeekshana 2-Laghus,1-Guru 16
Mattika 1-Guru,1-Dhruta,1-Pluta 22
Dhenkika 1-Guru,1-Laghu,1-Guru 20
Varnamattika 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas 12
Abhinandana 2-Laghus,2-Dhrutas,1-Guru 20
Antarakreeda 3-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 7
Malla Tala 4-Laghus,2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 21
Deepaka 2-Dhrutas,2-Laghus,2-Gurus 28
Ananga 1-Laghu,1-Pluta,2-Laghus,1-Guru 32
Vishama 4-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta,4-Dhrutas, 1-Anudhruta 18
Nandi 1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,2-Laghus,1-Guru 24
Mukunda 1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,1-Guru 20
Kanduka 4-Laghus,1-Guru 24
Eka Tala 1-Dhruta 2
Ata Tala 1-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu 12
Poorna Kankaala 4-Dhrutas,1-Guru,1-Laghu 20
Khanda Kankaala 2-Dhrutas,2-Gurus 20
Sama Kankaala 2-Gurus,1-Laghu 20
Vishama Kankaala 1-Laghu,2-Gurus 20
Chatus Tala 1-Guru,3-Dhrutas 14
Dombuli 1-Laghu,1-Anudhruta,1-Laghu,1-Anudhruta 10
Abhanga 1-Laghu,1-Pluta 16
Raaya Vankola 1-Guru,1-Laghu,1-Guru,2-Dhrutas 24
Laghu Sekhara 1-Laghu,1-Anudhruta 5
Prataapa Sekhara 1-Pluta,2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 17
Jagajjhampa 1-Guru,3-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 15
Chaturmuka 1-Laghu,1-Guru,1-Laghu,1-Guru 28
Jhampa 2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta,1-Laghu 9
Pratimatya 2-Laghus,2-Gurus,2-Laghus 32
Gaarugi 5-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 11
Vasanta 3-Laghus,3-Gurus 36
Lalita 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,1-Guru 16
Rati Tala 1-Laghu,1-Guru 12
Karana Yati 4-Dhrutas 8
Yati 1-Guru,3-Laghus 20
Shat tala 6-Dhrutas 12
Vardhana 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 20
Varna yati 2-Laghus,2-Plutas 32
Raajanaaraayana 2-Dhrutas,1-Laghu,1-Guru, 1-Laghu,1-Guru 28
Madana 2-Dhrutas,1-Pluta 16
Kaarika 4-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta 9
Paarvati Lochana 2-Dhrutas,2-Laghu,2-Dhrutas,1-Gurus, 1-Laghus,1-Guru,3-Laghus,1-Guru,2-Laghu 64
Srinandana 1-Guru,2-Laghus,1-Pluta 28
Lila 1-Dhruta,1-Laghu,1-Pluta 18
Vilokita 1-Laghu,1-Guru,2-Dhrutas,1-Pluta 28
Lalitapriya 2-Laghus,1-Guru,2-Laghus 24
Jhallaka 1-Guru,2-Dhrutas 16
Janaka 4-Laghus,2-Gurus,2-Laghus,1-Guru 48
Lakshmisa 2-Dhrutas,2-Laghus,1-Pluta 24
Raagavardhana 2-Dhrutas,1-Anudhruta,1-Dhruta,1-Pluta 19
Utsava 1-Pluta,1-Laghu 16
