The Katapayadi system
During my early years, when I was trying to learn Carnatic music, my teacher talked about how a melakarta raga’s notes can be determined by the full name of the raga, essentially from the first two syllables. This was amazing to me then, and it continues to be fantastic. This was based on the Katapayadi system. Like it’s said, the best way to learn something is to teach it; at least, Richard Bach said it; and I’m guessing it was in his book “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” So, what exactly is the Katapayadi system? Let’s dive into it, er…with a little bit of help from my friends, Wiki and Chat GPT, and the internet in general. What is the Katapayadi system? The Katapayadi system is a numerical notation system used in ancient India to represent numbers using letters of the alphabet. The system is believed to have originated in the Vedic period and was used for various purposes, such as writing poetry, mathematical calculations, and representing numbers in inscriptions. Origins ...