Talam
Talam has to things, a lagu and a dhritham. Lagu is where the palm is tapped once and then the fingers are counted rhythmically starting from the little finger. Dritham is when the palm is tapped once then over turned and tapped once and again the tapping of the front is repeated followed by the tapping of the palm after over turning it (don’t know if my explanation actually gives a picture of what I mean).
But the counting of the fingers could vary which gives raise to the different talams. A few are listed below.(found it on some website long back. But don’t remember the site’s name)
I – denotes the lagu
U – denotes half dritham. i.e the front of the palm is tapped once.
0 – denotes a full dritham
1. Chatushra Jaati DRUVA TALAM Alankaram:I4 0 I4 I4 = 4 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 14 beats
2. Chatushra Jaati MATYA TALAM Alankaram: I4 0 I4 = 4 + 2 + 4 = 10 beats
3. Chatushra Jati RUPAKA TALAM Alankaram: 0 I4= 2 + 4 = 6 beats
4. Mishra Jati JHAMPA TALAM Alankaram: I7 U 0 = 7 + 1 + 2 = 10 beats
5. Thrisra Jati TRIPUTA TALAM Alankaram: I3 0 0 = 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 beats
6. Khanda Jati ATA TALAM Alankaram:
I5 I5 0 0 = 5 + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14 beats
7. Chatushra Jati EKA TALAM Alankaram: I4 = 4 beats
8. Sankeerna Jati EKA TALAM Alankaram:I9 = 9 beats
