The term 'Achyut' was used by Sharangdev for which Swara?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

The term 'Achyut' literally translates to 'immutable' or 'unmoving.' In the seminal text *Sangeet Ratnakar*, Sharangdev used the term 'Achyut Swara' to denote the notes that are permanently fixed in their natural pitch positions and cannot be altered as *Komal* (flat) or *Tivra* (sharp). According to his classification, which adheres to ancient musicology, only two notes qualify as Achyut Swaras: *Shadaj* (Sa), the tonic and absolute starting point of the scale, and *Madhyam* (Ma), the fourth note. In the ancient *Gram* system, *Shuddha Madhyam* was considered a fixed pillar, thus Sharangdev specifically grouped both Sa and Ma together as the Achyut notes, serving as the foundational, unchangeable reference points for the other *Vikrit Swaras* (altered notes).

The incorrect option is 1:
While *Shadaj* (Sa) is undoubtedly the most fundamental fixed note in any scale and is one half of the correct answer, the term 'Achyut' was applied by Sharangdev to a pair of notes. To select *Sa* alone ignores the equally important role of *Madhyam* (Ma) in Sharangdev's framework as an unalterable note. Therefore, classifying Sa as the sole Achyut Swara is an incomplete understanding of the specific terminology used in the *Sangeet Ratnakar*.

The incorrect option is 3:
This option incorrectly substitutes *Pancham* (Pa) for *Madhyam* (Ma). Although *Pancham* is a fixed note and does not have *Komal* or *Tivra* variations in modern Hindustani music, classical theorists like Sharangdev did not include it in the 'Achyut' category. The defining theory behind 'Achyut Swara' in the context of the *Sangeet Ratnakar* was linked to the immutable notes that formed the fundamental structure of the *Gramas*, and in that specific historical context, the designation was reserved for Sa and Ma.

The incorrect option is 4:
This option incorrectly expands the definition to include *Pancham* (Pa) alongside *Shadaj* (Sa) and *Madhyam* (Ma). This common misconception often arises from conflating the term 'Achyut' as defined by Sharangdev with the modern term *Achala Swara*, which refers to the fixed notes that have no variants (Sa, Pa). The question specifically asks for Sharangdev's usage, and his classical definition of Achyut rigidly applies to only *Sa* and *Ma*.