How many types of Gamak are mentioned in 'Sangeet Parijat' ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
The correct answer is 20 because the celebrated treatise *Sangeet Parijat*, authored by Pandit Ahobal in the 17th century, categorically enumerates twenty distinct types of *Gamak* (ornamentation). Pandit Ahobal was an innovative musicologist who systematically classified various melodic movements and embellishments to standardize performance practice. His work serves as a vital bridge between ancient and modern Hindustani music, and this extensive classification of *Gamaks*—which include specific techniques like *Kampit*, *Sphurit*, *Aahata*, and *Gumphit*—was instrumental in clearly defining the melodic vocabulary of the era. Therefore, to correctly answer this question, students must recall Ahobal's precise categorization of 20 *Gamaks* within his influential text.

The incorrect option is 1:
The option **15** is incorrect because it does not correspond to the number of *Gamaks* specifically defined by Pandit Ahobal in *Sangeet Parijat*. While other ancient musicologists might have proposed different numbers, such as 15 or 19 *Gamaks* in texts like *Sangeet Ratnakar* by Sharangdev, the question explicitly asks for the count according to *Sangeet Parijat*. Therefore, citing the number from another foundational text, such as 15 from some interpretations of Sharangdev, would be a factual error in the context of Ahobal's scholarship. Students must be careful to attribute the correct number to the correct author and text.

The incorrect option is 2:
The option **7** is incorrect as it is a highly common number in Indian music theory, typically referring to the number of *Shuddha Swaras* (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni) or the number of *Murchhanas* in each *Gram*. The number of *Gamaks* is a sub-classification and is significantly larger than the primary seven notes. Mistaking the foundational number of notes for the complex number of embellishments shows a conceptual confusion between the basic components of a scale (*swaras*) and the sophisticated ornaments (*gamaks*) used to beautify the melody.

The incorrect option is 4:
The option **10** is incorrect for the number of *Gamaks* in *Sangeet Parijat*. Although some later or parallel traditions simplify the classification to ten core types (like *Dashvidh Raga* refers to ten *Raga* classifications), Ahobal's detailed analysis of the *Gamak* expanded this number to twenty. His classification was meant to be comprehensive, clearly describing twice the number of embellishments found in some shorter lists. Relying on an abbreviated classification would lead to the selection of this incorrect option, as 10 fails to capture the detailed theoretical depth of *Sangeet Parijat*.