| From Nāda to Melakarta: The Evolution of Rāga in Indian Knowledge Systems and its Relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals |
| The evolution of Indian classical music represents one of the most sophisticated intellectual trajectories within the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). Beginning with the metaphysical doctrine of Nāda and the tonal recitation of the Sāmaveda, Indian music developed through systematic refinements in śruti (microtone), svara (note), jāti (proto-rāga), grāma (scale system), mūrchanā (modal shift), and rāga (aesthetic melodic entity). Foundational treatises such as the Nāṭyaśāstra, Dattilam, Bṛhaddēśī, Saṅgīta Ratnākara, and Chaturdandi Prakāśikā progressively codified these developments, culminating in the 72 Melakarta system.
This study employs historical-textual analysis to trace the transformation of melodic thought from Vedic chant to structured raga taxonomy. It further interprets rāga as a multidisciplinary knowledge system integrating acoustics, mathematics, psychology, pedagogy, and metaphysics. By mapping these principles onto selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 11.4, SDG 16, and SDG 17—the paper argues that Indian classical music offers a sustainable epistemic model capable of addressing contemporary global challenges. The rāga system thus emerges not merely as a performing art tradition but as a living knowledge paradigm grounded in scientific rigor and cultural continuity.
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| Author: Dr Ramya C R
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Submitted on : 25-Feb-2026
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Arts : India/ Music/ Carnatic Classical Music |
| Journal ID : 0031-101-0325
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| Views: 45/ Downloads :0 |
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