Now we must ponder two questions:

1. We now know that 484 unique scales are available in each Thaat, but when we apply this formula to all 10 Thaats and put all 4840 scales in one list, are they all unique?
2. If one can compile a list of all unique aroh/avrohs, can that list be called a list of Raags?

The answer to both these questions is ‘no.’

When we repeat the formula above, many identical scales are created.

How?

As an example, the difference between Bilaval Thaat and Khamaj Thaat is the position of ‘N’ (the seventh). ‘Nee’ is Tivar in Bilaval and is Komal in Khamaj. Now wherever ‘N’ has been omitted, all those scales will be identical in Bilaval and Khamaj. Check the following iluustrations. First you see both Thaats (Bilaval and Khamaj), when you press ‘next’, both show a Chhadav-Chhadav scale (6-6, ‘N’ or the seventh is missing). Thus the new scale is identical in Bilaval and Khamaj.

[iframe width=”100%” height=”350″ src=”https://www.sangtar.com/canvas/170202-bilaval-khamaj-Canvas.html”].

To be exact, Bilaval and Khamaj have 32 overlapping scales. There are hundreds others that overlap.

Secondly, A Raag is much more than an ascending and a descending. You cannot make  Raags just with unique scales. There are many Raags that have identical scales and yet are very different from each other. Raags have other characteristics, which give them unique personality. We will discuss properties of a Raag in the next post.

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