Raga - based on a scale

As for a slightly practical aspect, a Raga must belong to a scale, and, only those notes found in that particular scale pattern can be used in the given Raga. There are ten parental scales. Originally there were seventy two parental scales, a foundation that has not seen any change as far as the South Indian Classical music in concerned. In the North Indian Classical music, these scales are called Thaat. One can imagine the number of combinations and compositions that can come out of these seventy two scales. Out of the myriad possibilities, only several hundred Ragas are in use today. It is evident why the artist's search does not end in one life, and the thirst is carried forward from life to life, from generation to generation.