gayana

Gayana is a term rooted in Sanskrit and used in several South Asian languages to denote singing or a vocal performance. In linguistic and musical contexts, it refers to the act or art of singing, often distinguished from instrumental music. The word is typically transliterated as gāyana, with variations such as gayana or gayāna, depending on script and language.

In classical music and liturgical usage, gayana signifies vocal rendering, song, or chant. It can appear in phrases describing vocal repertoire, performance practice, or recitative, and may be combined with other terms to specify a style or tradition of singing. Related terms in Indian music include gayaki, which refers to a manner or style of vocal delivery, and gayaki-related concepts used to describe how a raga or composition is performed vocally.

Gayana is also used as a feminine given name in some communities within South Asia and among the diaspora. As a personal name, it is often chosen for its musical connotations or cultural resonance with the word’s meaning, and spelling variants arise from transliteration into different languages and scripts.

Outside of language and naming, there are no widely established, distinct entities or places universally recognized under the term gayana in English-language reference works. When encountered, it is typically either a reference to singing in general or a proper noun tied to a specific person, organization, or local context.