An increase in speed leads to a smaller gap between two beats. A 'Taal' may be played at different speeds termed as its 'Laya'. Each 'Taal' is well defined and consists of specific beats in which it divides a single cycle called 'Avartan'. This gave rise to different 'Taals', each having its own distinct characteristics.
According to 'Amar Kosh', Taal is nothing but a unit or cycle of time whereas 'Bharat Muni' in his 'Natya Shastra' defines 'Taal' as a standard for measuring Time in the context of music.Įventually there arose the need to distinguish one rhythm cycle from another on the basis of number of beats and the pattern in which the beats are played. Another great work called 'Sangeet Ratnakar' by 'Sharangadev' defines 'Taal' as that which establishes and awards prestige to music (both Vocal and Instrumental) and dance. 'Sangeet Makarand' by 'Narada' defines 'Taal' as the play of Time wherein it distributes itself in specific intervals occurring in a cyclic order and upholds or supports music and dance. Various definitions of 'Taal' have been around since ancient times. A 'Taal' consists of not only a fixed number of beats, but those beats are very specific, they are repeated in a cyclical manner and 'Taal' consists of specific divisions (Khanda) of the beats. However, in reality, it is much more than that. The word 'Taal' is commonly understood to mean a 'Rhythm cycle'.