Question

The most prominent Swara of a raga is

• A. Anuvadi
• B. Vivadi
• C. Samvadi
• D. Vadi

Hint:

Remember the hierarchy of swaras using the analogy of a royal court: Vadi is the King, Samvadi is the Minister, Anuvadis are the subjects, and Vivadi is the enemy. This makes it easy to recall their relative importance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In the structure of a raga, swaras (notes) are categorized based on their importance and function. The question asks to identify the most important or prominent swara.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The four categories of swaras in a raga are:
1. Vadi (King): This is the most important and most frequently used swara in a raga. It is the central point around which the melodic phrases are built.
2. Samvadi (Minister/Queen): This is the second most important swara. It has a consonant relationship with the Vadi swara, typically being four or five notes away.
3. Anuvadi (Attendant): These are all the other swaras present in the raga, apart from the Vadi and Samvadi.
4. Vivadi (Enemy): This is a dissonant note that is not part of the raga's scale. It is either completely avoided or used very sparingly by a skilled musician to add a specific emotional color.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Based on the definitions, the Vadi is the most prominent swara of a raga.