Sangita Makarandha
Sangita Makaranda is an ancient work on classical music written by Narada. This work is a rare collection of definitions, descriptions and comments on all the essential music by other ancient reputed authors from Bharata Muni to Sharangdeva. Its main feature is the treatment of Ragas; categorizing them as male, female and neuter. The three distinct stages It also hints on the uniqueness of the raga-nomenclaturing. On close study of it, one learns of three distinct stages on the nomenclaturing of the Indian ragas. Stage one refers Bharata's Natyashastra (prior 2nd century BC). It is the stage of raga-nomenclature when the ragas were named after the saliant swara of the ragas. For example, after Shadja swara, originated the name of the Raga called shadja; after Arshabha swara originated the name of Arsharbha Raga; and after Gandhari swara was named the Gaandhari Raga, the last one being still in currency. In the second stage, the Ragas were named after different jana (tribes or the clans) dwelling in different geographical locations. For example, after Shaka tribe was named Shakatilak Raga or Shakamishrat variants of Shaka Raga; after Pulinda tribe was named the Pulinda Raga; after Abhira clan was named Abhiri Raga; after