Literary Sources
- Sama Veda: All the seven notes of the raga Kharaharapriya can be found in the descending order in Sama Veda. The science of music called the Gandharva Veda is an Upaveda of the Sama Veda.
- Aitareya Aranyaka: The parts of the instrument Veena are mentioned in Aitareya Aranyaka.
- Jaiminiya Brahmana: The Jaiminiya Brahmana speaks collectively of dance and music.
- Natyashastra: The first reference to musical theory was discussed in Bharata’s Natyashastra written and compiled between 200 BCE and 200 CE. This deals with 22 key notes called srutis.
- Sangeet Ratnakara: Sarangadeva, a 13th-century musicologist who wrote the classic text on music, the Sangeet Ratnakara deals with the view of Natyashastra. Sangeet Ratnakara defined about 264 ragas including some from the North Indian and the Dravidian repertoires.
- Brihaddeshi: Brihaddeshi wrote in Sanskrit between the 6th and 8th century in Matanga and focused on the definition of the word ‘raga’.
- Swaramela-Kalanidhi: Swaramela-Kalanidhi written by Ramamatya in the 16th century again deals primarily with ragas.
- Chaturdandi-prakashika: Chaturdandi-prakashika written by Venkatamakhin in the 17th century is famous for the important information on Carnatic musicology.
