Swaras in Carnatic Music

A swara is nothing but a musical note.
The seven swaras often termed as 'SaptaSwaras' in classical music are :
'Sa' - Shadjam
'Ri' - Rishabam
'Ga' - Gandaram
'Ma' - Madhyamam
'Pa' - Panjamam
'Da' - Daivatam'
Ni' - Nishadam

The first class of carnatic music starts with finding the notes 'Sa' , 'Pa' and higher 'Sa'.
'Sa' is the first and basic note, and the rest of the notes are successively higher to basic 'Sa', which gives an ascending scale of the saptaswaras. Once higher 'Sa' is reached, the notes begin to descend in frequency from Sa to Ni, Ni to Da, Da to Pa and so on.
The concept of Seven swaras is not only for carnatic music but found in Western and Hindustani music. In Carnatic music and Hindustani music, we call the seven swaras as Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da, and Ni and in Western Music, the same seven swaras or notes are called doh, ray, me, fa, soh, lah, te respectively.

Swaras are reputed to have been inspired by sounds of birds & animals such as :
Shadja -- Peacock
Rishaba -- Ox
Gandhara -- Goat
Madyama -- Krouncha bird
Panchama -- Cuckoo
Daivata -- Horse
Nishada -- Elephant

Shadjam(Sa) & Panchamam(Pa) are constant. They are often known as fixed notes or achala swaras.
Other 5 swarams are placed relative to these two constant swaras. Other Swarams have two levels(sthanas). Thus there exist twelve swara sthanas.
1. Shadja
2. Suddha Ri
3. Chathusruthi Ri
4. Sadarana Ga
5. Antara Ga
6. Suddha Ma
7. Prati Ma
8. Panchama
9. Suddha Da
10. Chatusruti Da
11. Kaisiki Ni
12. Kakali Ni
Four more having shades of other swaras - Suddha Gandharam, Shatsruti Rishaba, Suddha Nishada & Shatsruti Dhaivata - make up a total of sixteen.A unique blend of these notes , or swara as they are called , evolves separate raga.