Shrutis are 22 microtonal intervals or minute sound
frequencies in a saptak that are dwelt on and can be distinguished as different
from eachother by the human ear.
If you talk about the shuddha scale or bikawal that, then if
Sa is on the first shruti, then ideally shuddha Re should be on the coming 4th
shruti, shuddha Ga on the coming 3rd shruti, shuddha Ma on the
coming 2nd, Pa on the coming 4th, Dha on the coming 4th
and Ni on the coming 5th. Taar Sa will come again on the 2nd
coming shruti.
The various concepts related to sound frequencies and the
difference between them:
Dhwani: Any Dhwani means sound. So any sound frequency that
can be heard by the human/animal ear is a dhwani.
Naad: Naad is a Dhwani that has relatively consistent sound
properties i.e. consistency of frequency, amplitude and timbre. It is thus
‘musical sound’ or ‘sangitik dhwani’ as it becomes pleasing to the human ear to
its consistent properties.
Shruti: Saptak is a range of musical sound frequencies and
thus there are infinite naads in the saptak. To create music, you need to ‘dwell’
on certain naads. Musicologists, with the help of natural consonant laws and
mathematical calculations have identified 22 naads out of these infinite naads
that can be ‘dwelt’ on in order to produce defining music. These 22 musical
sound frequencies are called shrutis.
Swaras: Each raag or melodic composition requires certain
kinds of shruti in order to set a specific mood (as the correct mood in Indian
Classical music performance is achieved only with proper pitching which comes
with the proper use of shrutis). The chosen shrutis thus become the
representatives of the swara of that raag i.e. they become the swaras of the
raag!
So every swara is a shruti, and every shruti is a naad,
every naad is a dhwani but the vice versa is not true.
