The evolution of Indian Music from the Indus Valley civilization to a highly evolved classical form has intrigued and fascinated one and all. The Indian classical music which traces its origin to the Vedic recitation (1500BC -500BC) developed from simple chanting to a highly evolved melodic system of music, the Raga. The transition from the chant to song was very gradual with the melodic sweetness gaining prominence over the intellectual technique in music. The Samskrta treatises have been the most important source of information on the development of music, dance and drama from the ancient to the modern times. Literature on music can be found from the Vedic times followed by the Upanishads, the period which marks an important landmark in the history of Sangita Granthas. The Puranas, which have given importance to sacred music and the Epics, give interesting accounts of both vocal and instrumental music as well as dance, which had a very significant place in the society from very early times. The Ramayana, written in a period considered to be the age of Jatis (precursor to the present day Raga) and Mahabharata give very valuable information on the theory of Music. The treatises, written by court musicians and scholars were always patronized by the kings, which revealed the close connection of these texts with the patronage enjoyed by them. While the Sangita Sastra are texts on music that include rules, devised by artistes, connoisseurs and scholars, to be strictly followed by the performers, the Laksana Granthas or the Music Treatises on the other hand string together these rules, in prose or verses, written by Granthakaras, after careful and thorough study of observances of music and dance practices prevalent in their times and those in the past
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