How are gitas classified?

• A. Tala-based and tala-less
• B. Sadharna (Samanya, Lakshaya, and sancari) gitas and Lakshana gitas
• C. Carnatic and Hindustani
• D. Instrumental and vocal

Answer: (B)

Gitas are classified by their teaching purpose. They are grouped into Sadharna gitas, which are general, everyday practice pieces (covering Samanya, Lakshaya, and sancari varieties), and Lakshana gitas, which are specifically designed to illustrate the lakshanas—the defining features and rules—of a raga or melodic style. The Sadharna group helps you build breadth, technique, and fluency, while Lakshana gitas target understanding of how a raga is formed and expressed. Other classifications like rhythm-based vs rhythm-free, or Carnatic vs Hindustani, describe styles or rhythm usage rather than how the gitas are used pedagogically, and instrumental vs vocal refers to medium, not the instructional purpose of the gita.