Abstract

Categorization refers to the process of classifying objects, ideas, or phenomena into distinct groups or categories based on shared characteristics or properties. It plays a crucial role in various aspects of human understanding, knowledge organization, and communication and it also serves as a tool or method to understand changes that have occurred throughout history. Scholars of Indian Classical Music have also utilized the method of classification to categorize ragas and make their understanding easier. From the ancient to medieval period, and from medieval to the modern period, there have been changes in thought, ideas, perception, and the overall outlook on how one understands raga in Hindustani Classical Music and also how each epoch categorized raga. The categorization of ragas under three heads i.e., Shuddh, Chayalag, and Sankeerna is an ancient raga classification system and of which, Sankeerna raga classification is the focus of this research paper. The aim is to understand the meaning and concept of sankeerna ragas. How are ragas mixed? What aspects should be taken care of while mixing ragas? How does one name a raga that has properties of a mixed form? How are different types of sankeerna ragas classified?