Jati, Vaadi & Samvadi

Now that you know what a raag is, let's talk about how raags are classified and what makes each raag unique.

Jati :

Jati means type or class. In the context of raags, Jati classifies a raag based on how many Swars it uses.

Remember, a raag must have at least 5 Swars and can have up to 7. Based on this:

Audav Jati: 5 Swars. The word Audav comes from the Sanskrit for "five." Raag Bhupali and Raag Durga are Audav raags.

Shadav Jati: 6 Swars. Shadav means six. Raag Khamaj (Aaroha has 6) and Raag Bageshri are Shadav in their Aaroha.

Sampurna Jati: 7 Swars. All seven notes are used. Raag Kafi and Raag Yaman are Sampurna raags.

Now here is where it gets interesting. The Aaroha and Avaroha of a raag can have different numbers of Swars. A raag might skip notes going up but include all seven coming down. In these cases, the Jati is described as a combination, for example Audav-Sampurna (5 notes in Aaroha, 7 in Avaroha) or Shadav-Sampurna (6 up, 7 down).

When you describe a raag, you state both the Aaroha Jati and the Avaroha Jati together.

Vaadi :

Vaadi is the most important Swar in a raag. The king of the raag, if you like. The Vaadi is the note that appears most frequently, is held longest, is used to begin and end phrases, and defines the personality of the raag most strongly.

When singing a raag, the Vaadi is the note you always return to. It is home base within the raag, the note that feels most natural to rest on.

The etymology is elegant: "Vadati iti Vaadi" meaning "that which speaks is Vaadi." The Vaadi is the note that speaks for the raag.

Samvaadi :

Samvaadi is the second most important Swar in a raag. The minister to the Vaadi's king. It supports and complements the Vaadi, appears frequently (though not as often as Vaadi), and creates a dialogue with it.

There is a mathematical rule about the Vaadi-Samvaadi relationship: in most raags, the Samvaadi is either a perfect fourth or a perfect fifth away from the Vaadi. So if the Vaadi is Sa, the Samvaadi is likely Ma or Pa. This rule has exceptions but it holds true for most raags at this level.

The Exam-Ready Definitions

Jati: Classification of a raag based on the number of Swars used.

Audav: 5 Swars. Shadav: 6 Swars. Sampurna: 7 Swars.

Vaadi: The most important and most frequently used Swar in a raag. The raag's principal note.

Samvaadi: The second most important Swar in a raag. Complements the Vaadi and usually lies a fourth or fifth away from it.

Common Misconceptions

Students confuse Jati with Saptak. Jati is about how many notes a raag uses. Saptak is about which octave you are in. Completely different concepts.

Also, Vaadi does not mean the highest note. It means the most important note. The Vaadi could be any of the 7 Swars, and it is often in the middle range, not the top or bottom.

Quick Quiz

1. What is Jati and what are its three types?

2. A raag has 5 notes in Aaroha and 7 in Avaroha. What is its Jati?

3. What is Vaadi?

4. What is the relationship between Vaadi and Samvaadi?

5. Can two different raags have the same Vaadi? Think about it.

Listening Task

Listen to Raag Bhupali. It is Audav-Audav (5 notes both ways). The Vaadi is Ga. As you listen, try to notice how the music keeps returning to Ga, how it feels like a natural resting point in the melody. That pull toward Ga is the Vaadi in action. 🎵

PEACE ! 🎻