Sangit Mahabharati Chowk, Mumbai - 400049, India.
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Projects

About The Music Encyclopaedia

Preserving, Documenting & Advancing Indian Classical Music

Sangit Mahabharati undertakes long‑term projects dedicated to the documentation, research, preservation, and propagation of Indian classical music and allied arts. These projects reflect the institution’s commitment to safeguarding musical heritage for future generations.

Music Encyclopaedia – Published

The Music Encyclopaedia Project of Sangit Mahabharati was initiated in 1961 by Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, who served as its Founder and Chief Editor for over three decades. The project later continued under the focused editorial direction of Dr. S. Devadas Pillai as Executive Editor.

With scholarly contributions from nearly 300 experts worldwide, this monumental work has been published by Oxford University Press as a three‑volume set titled:
The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India

This encyclopaedia is widely regarded as a first‑of‑its‑kind global reference work in the field of Indian musicology.

Building Complex & Infrastructure Development

Sangit Mahabharati has been housed since 1976 in a three‑storeyed building located in Mumbai’s prestigious JVPD Scheme, at a junction popularly known as Sangit Mahabharati Chowk.

The foundation stone of the building was laid in 1969 by the legendary tabla maestro Ahmed Jan Thirakwa.

Over the decades, the institution has been visited and blessed by eminent personalities from the fields of music, dance, drama, literature, and spirituality.

Forms of Music

  • Hindustani classical traditions
  • Carnatic classical traditions
  • Structural similarities & differences
  • Regional evolution of styles
  • Performance practices

Raga System

  • Raga structure & grammar
  • Time theory of ragas
  • Rasa and mood expression
  • Raga classification systems
  • Improvisational techniques

Tala & Rhythm

  • Tala frameworks and cycles
  • Layakari and rhythmic patterns
  • Sam, khali, vibhag concepts
  • Percussion traditions
  • Role of rhythm in performance

Gharanas & Styles

  • Vocal gharana traditions
  • Instrumental stylistic schools
  • Lineage and pedagogy
  • Regional influence on styles
  • Evolution of gharanas

History & Heritage

  • Ancient origins of Indian music
  • Medieval and court traditions
  • Royal patronage and durbars
  • Colonial and modern periods
  • Continuity of tradition

Instruments

  • String instruments
  • Percussion instruments
  • Wind instruments
  • Instrument construction
  • Performance techniques

Personalities

  • Legendary musicians
  • Composers and scholars
  • Gurus and teachers
  • Performers across generations
  • Global ambassadors of music

Texts & Traditions

  • Classical music treatises
  • Theoretical foundations
  • Oral and written traditions
  • Folk and regional music
  • Devotional music forms

Music in Society

  • Music and dance traditions
  • Theatre and stage arts
  • Music in films and drama
  • Educational institutions
  • Neighbouring country traditions
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