 India is the home of raga system. Her music is a fine example of true melodic system of music. India has given birth to two systems of music Hindustani and Carnatic. Indian music is very old. Its literature dates back from the periods prior to the beginning of the Christian Era. References to Music are contained in Vedas, Upanishads, and the Puranas. There was a time when a single system of music prevailed throughout the length and breadth of India. The division into North Indian (Hindustani) and South Indian (Carnatic) systems came later on and became more pronounced during the reign of the Mughal emperors in Delhi.
Fundamentally the two systems are similar. The same swaras (notes) and srutis are being used. It is the peculiar style of singing the notes and the treatment of ragas, gives the distinctive color to the two systems. The modern music of India represents the accumulated musical wisdom of centuries. Prolific composers like Thyagaraja, Purandaradas and Kshtrayya in South india and Surdas, Tukaram, Chaitanya and Sanker Dev in North India have enriched the repertoire of Indian music with their musical compositions. India is also rich in folk music and folk dance.
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