Created by JoannaCostantino
Last edited March 14, 2026

Template:More citations needed

Template:Carnatic Eka tala is one of the sapta (seven) talas (beats) bases in Indian Carnatic classical music.[1][2][3]

Its cycle is of the form of a single laghu, which consists in a first beat followed by a variable count. Traditionally, this base of beats can produce five meter patterns.

Forms

There are five forms (jatis) by varying the number of beats in the cycle. For example, chatusra eka taala will have four beats, with the related action being a single beat with the palm and then three beats with the movement of the outer three fingers in one cycle.

When the type of the laghu (number of beats) is not specified, eka tala is understood to be chaturasra eka (4 beats).Some Bharatiyar songs based on Eka taalam are "Villinai"( Tisra Ekam), Theeraatha Villaiyattu (Khanda Ekam).

Symbols

Jaathi - Tala Symbol No. of aksharams (beats)
Tisra Eka |3 3
Chatusra Eka |4 4
Khanda Eka |5 5
Misra Eka |7 7
Sankeerna Eka |9 9

See also

References

  1. Nadavidyalaya hosts ‘Nada Nritya Mukula’. Star of Mysore(2025-09-16). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  2. Vaikom Satyagraham. The Hindu(2023-04-01). Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  3. Celestial Wedding of Lord Balaji Begins in Tirumala. www.deccanchronicle.com(2025-05-07). Retrieved 2026-03-14.

Template:Portal


Template:Carnatic-music-stub