Basics of Angas in Tala

Angas of tala determine how each tala is executed through specific movements.

1. Triyangam (3 Angas)

2. Shadangam (6 angas)

1. Triyangam with anga symbols

   
   

Anudrutham: One strike

Drutham: One strike, one flip

Laghu: One strike followed by finger counts

1. Anudrutham U - 1/4 matra

2. Dhrutham O - ½ matra

3. Laghu | - 1 matra

2. Pancha Laghu

1. Chathusra Laghu : 1 beat 3 counts : 4 Aksharas

2. Trisra Laghu : 1 beat 2 counts : 3 Aksharas

3. Khanda Laghu : 1 beat 4 counts : 5 Aksharas

4. Misra Laghu : 1 beat 6 counts : 7 Aksharas

5. Sankeerna Laghu : 1 beat 8 counts : 9 Aksharas

3. Pancha Jaathi

Jaathi refers to the number of finger counts in the laghu of a tala.

1. Trisra Jaathi (Laghu value = 3)

2. Chathusra Jaathi (Laghu value = 4)

3. Khanda Jaathi (Laghu value = 5)

4. Misra Jaathi (Laghu value = 7 )

5. Sankeerna Jaathi (Laghu value = 9)

4. Pancha Nadai

Nadai refers to the number of matras contained within single beat.

1. Chathusra nadai - 4 matras within one beat (Ta Ka Di Mi)

2. Trisra nadai - 3 matras within one beat (Ta Ki Ta)

3. Khanda nadai - 5 matras within one beat (Ta Ka Ta Ki Ta)

4. Misra nadai - 7 matras within one beat (Ta Ki Ta Ta Ka Di Mi)

5. Sankeerna nadai - 9 matras within one beat (Ta Ka Di Mi Ta Ka Ta Ki Ta)

5. Sapta Talas/Suladi Talas

(Chathusra jaathi)

1. Dhruva Talam - |4 O2 |4 |4 - 14 Aksharam

2. Matya Talam - |4 O2 |4 - 10 Aksharam

3. Jampa Talam - |4 U1 O2 - 7 Aksharam

4. Ata Talam - |4 |4 O2 O2 - 12 Aksharam

5. Triputa Talam - |4 O2 O2 - 8 Aksharam

6. Rupaka Talam - O2 |4 - 6 Aksharam

7. Eka Talam - |4 - 4 Aksharam

6. Shadangam with anga symbols

1. Anudrutham - U - one beat

2. Dhrutham - O - one beat + one wave

3. Laghu - | - one beat + Jaathi counts

4. Guru - 8 - Eight matras

5. Plutham - - one beat + three waves

6. Kakapatham - + - one beat + movement resembling a crows foot

Guru:

Guru resembles a curved bow shape. After striking, the hand is lowered eight inches downward. The hand is struck and then formed into a fist on the left side and lowered in a bow-like motion from top to bottom seven times.

Plutham:

Plutham resembles the form of a coiled snake and is performed three times. The struck hand is rotated eight inches and lowered eight inches. It consists of striking the thigh for three counts, waving to the left for three counts, and waving to the right three counts.

Kakapadam:

Kakapadam is in the shape of a crow’s footprint. The right hand is waved evenly eight inches in four directions- left,right,up and down. It consisits of striking the thigh for three counts,waving upward for three counts,waving to the left for three counts and waving to the right for three counts.