How many shrutis have been formulated for all practical purposes?

The correct answer is 22.

Key Points

• In Indian classical music, the concept of shruti refers to the smallest gradation of sound or pitch that the human ear can discern.
• The number of shrutis used for practical purposes in Indian classical music has been standardized to 22 shrutis.
• This formulation of 22 shrutis is credited to the ancient Indian musicologist Bharata, who documented the concept in his treatise Natyashastra.
• The 22 shrutis are distributed across the seven swaras (notes) of the octave: Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni.
• While the concept of shrutis is theoretical, it serves as the foundation for understanding the tuning and microtonal variations in Indian classical music.

Additional Information

• Shruti: It is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "to hear" and represents the smallest interval of pitch discernible by the ear in Indian classical music.
• Swaras: The seven musical notes (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni) form the framework of melodies in Indian classical music, and shrutis are subdivisions within these swaras.
• Natyashastra: This ancient Indian text by Bharata is one of the earliest references to shrutis and serves as a foundational document for Indian performing arts, including music, dance, and drama.
• Microtones: Shrutis represent microtonal intervals that are smaller than the semitones used in Western music, allowing for greater melodic and harmonic flexibility in Indian classical music.
• Historical Significance: The classification of 22 shrutis has been instrumental in preserving the unique tonal structure of Indian music, distinguishing it from Western musical systems.