<P> Primary themes include worship, descriptions of temples, philosophy, and nayaka - nayika (Sanskrit "hero - heroine") themes . Tyagaraja (1759--1847), Muthuswami Dikshitar (1776--1827) and Syama Sastri (1762--1827) have been the important historic scholars of Carnatic music . According to Eleanor Zelliot, Tyagaraja is known in the Carnatic tradition as one of the greatest composers, and he reverentially acknowledged the influence of Purandara Dasa . </P> <P> It is unclear when the process of differentiation of Hindustani music started . The process may have started in 14th century courts of the Delhi Sultans . However, according to Jairazbhoy, the North Indian tradition likely acquired its modern form after the 14th or after the 15th century . The Hindustani music development reached a peak in the Indian subcontinent during the reign of Akbar . During this 16th century period, Tansen studied music and introduced musical innovations, for about the first sixty years of his life with patronage of the Hindu king Ram Chand of Gwalior, and thereafter performed at the Muslim court of Akbar . Many musicians in northern Indian subcontinent consider the 16th century Tansen as the founder of Hindustani classical music . </P> <P> Tansen's style and innovations inspired many, and many modern gharanas (Hindustani music teaching houses) link themselves to his lineage . The Muslim courts discouraged Sanskrit and Hindu religious words, and encouraged technical music . Such constraints led Hindustani music to evolve in a different way than the Carnatic music . </P> <P> Hindustani music style is mainly found in North India, Pakistan and Bangladesh . It exists in four major forms: Dhrupad, Khyal (or Khayal), Thumri and Tappa . Dhrupad is ancient, Khyal evolved from it, Thumri evolved from Khyal . Dhrupad is solemn music, uplifting and heroic, pure and spiritual . Khyal adds ornamental notes, shorter, moody and celebratory . Thumri go one step further in their brevity, and are graceful songs . There are three major schools of Thumri: Lucknow gharana, Banaras gharana and Punjabi gharana . These weave in folk music innovations . Tappa is the most folksy, one which likely existed in Rajasthan and Punjab region before it was systematized and integrated into classical music structure . It became popular, with the Bengali musicians developing their own Tappa . </P>

The two great traditions of indian classical music discussed in the chapter are