History - Bharata Muni and the division of Classical Music

Approximately in the period between 400 A.D and 500 A.D Bharata wrote his famous treatise, the Natyashastra. The Hindu philosophy and literature unanimously regards Natyashastra as the most authentic book on dance, drama and music. It truly contains the root of all Indian aesthetics. There have been several scholars who have given their commentaries and interpretations of Natyashastra.

Bharata's son Dattila is also credited with a book named Dattilam. Another writer named Matanga wrote a book known as Brihaddeshi, around the 8th century.

The period from 400 A.D to 1100 A.D. shows considerable progress in sorting and organizing of classical music. It is said that Jatis were subsequently divided into six principle basic melodies and soon afterwards two branches of classical music came into existence: Northern or Hindustani school, and the Southern or Carnatic school.