Katapayadi Formula

Ancient Number System

The Katapayadi Formula

An ancient Sanskrit numbering system that encodes the serial number of every Melakartha raga directly into its name.

Interactive Tool

Decode Any Raga

Select a raga and watch the formula reveal its number.

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The Formula

Each Sanskrit consonant maps to a digit (0-9). The table has four rows, each named after its first consonant. Tap a digit below to highlight all consonants with that value.

Ka-di (Kadinava)

Ka= 1

Kha= 2

Ga= 3

Gha= 4

Nga= 5

Cha= 6

Chha= 7

Ja= 8

Jha= 9

Nja= 0

Ta-di (Tadinava)

Ta= 1

Tha= 2

Da= 3

Dha= 4

Na= 5

Ta= 6

Tha= 7

Da= 8

Dha= 9

Na= 0

Pa-di (Padipancha)

Pa= 1

Pha= 2

Ba= 3

Bha= 4

Ma= 5

Ya-di (Yadyashta)

Ya= 1

Ra= 2

La= 3

Va= 4

Sha= 5

Sha= 6

Sa= 7

Ha= 8

Compact Reference

Row	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
Ka-di	Ka	Kha	Ga	Gha	Nga	Cha	Chha	Ja	Jha	Nja
Ta-di	Ta	Tha	Da	Dha	Na	Ta	Tha	Da	Dha	Na
Pa-di	Pa	Pha	Ba	Bha	Ma	—	—	—	—	—
Ya-di	Ya	Ra	La	Va	Sha	Sha	Sa	Ha	—	—

Important Rules

1.Only consonants have numerical values. Vowels and pure vowel sounds are ignored.
2.In a conjunct consonant (two consonants joined), only the last consonant of the conjunct is considered.
3.Only the first two meaningful consonants of the raga name are used.
4.The two digits are written in order, then reversed to get the raga number.

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