- Malahari is a janya of the 15th Melakarta raga Mayamalavagowla.
- This raaga is known to be a morning raaga which brings out a sense of calmness.
- It is associated with the rainy season.
- The word 'Malahari' means 'that which drains/eradicates impurity'. It is an auspicious raaga.
- Malahari evokes Bhakhi rasa.
- It is a Tristhaayi raga (sung in three octaves).
- In classical carnatic training, it is often used as a raaga for beginners using geetha right after the swara-based exercises in Mayamalavagowla.
- Sri Purandharadasa, the father of Carnatic Music, devised compositions for beginners' Abhyaasa (Pillaari/Piliyaari Geethams) in this raagam. It is not of wide use lately in concerts. Instead Saveri is being used widely (which is different from Malahari only with respect to the absence/presence of Nishaadam in the Avarohana).
- Many of the Geethas in this raga have been composed by Purandara Dasa and Muthuswami Dikshitar.
- Moorchana of Malahari:
- S R₁ M₁ P D₁ Ṡ
- Ṡ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S
- This raga is an asymmetric scale and is classified as an Upaanga Varjya (G,N missing in Aarohana and N missing in Avarohana) audava-shadava raga (five notes in the ascending scale and six notes in the descending scale).
- The notes in this scale are
- shaDjam
- shuddha rishabha
- shuddha madhyama
- panchakam
- shuddha dhaivata in arohana and
- additional anthara gandhara in avarohana.
- Since this scale does not have a nishadha, it can be derived from Gayakapriya (13th melakarta) or Vakulabharanam (14th) too, but has been traditionally associated with Mayamalavagowla (15th) as the parent.
- Compositions in Malahari usually begin with swaras R,M,P,D.
- Jeeva swaras are M,P,D.
- Vaadi, Graha swaras of Malahari are S,M,D.
- Samvaadi swaras of Malahari are S-P, R-D, S-M, M-S, P-S
- Janta swaras like RR MM PP DD, MM PP DD SS, DD PP MM GG RR may appear frequently.
- Malahari raaga has mention in famous granthas like:
- Sangeetha Makarandamu - Narada
- Sangeetha Ratnaakaramu - Sarngadeva
- Sangeetha Choodaamani - Jagadekamallu
- Pandithaaraadhya Charithramu - Palkuriki Somanatha
- Sangeetha Saaramu - Vidyaaranya
- Chaturdandi Prakaasika - Venkatamakhin
- Raaga Thaala Chinthaamani - Poluri Govindaamaathya
- Popular compositions in Malahari Raagam:
- shri GaNanaatha in Rupaka, written by Purandara Dasa
- kunda gowra gowrivara in Rupaka, written by Purandara Dasa
- padumanaabha paramapurusha in Triputa, written by Purandara Dasa
- kereya neeranu kerege chelli in Triputa, written by Purandara Dasa
- Panchamatanga in Rupaka composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Ananta Padmanaabam in Rupaka composed by Muthiah Bhagavatar
- Kalaye Devadeva in Jhampa composed by MaharajaSwathi Thirunal
- Melukovayya in Adi composed by Shahji Maharaja
- Saveri is the Janya raagam of 15th Melakarta raga Mayamalavagowla.
- Moorchana of Saveri raagam:
- S R₁ M₁ P D₁ Ṡ
- Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S
- The notes are
- shuddha rishabham
- shuddha madhyamam
- shuddha dhaivatam in ascending scale and
- kakali nishadam
- shuddha dhaivatam
- shuddha madhyamam
- anthara gandharam and
- shuddha rishabham in descent.
- This raga brings out karuna rasa, i.e. it brings mood of compassion.
- The two swaras which give the raga such a characteristic are R (Rishabham) and D (Dhaivatham).
- It is an Audava Sampoorna Upaanga raagam.
- This is one of the ancient raagas.
- It creates karuna rasa (the mood of pathos or pity).
- This raga has a soothing effect on listeners.
- There is an old Tamil saying "Kaveri is the most popular in theerthas and Saveri in ragas".
- The most auspicious time to sing this raagam is morning (6 am to 10 am) and afternoon (12 pm to 3 pm).
- The equivalent of Saveri in Hindustani music is Raga Jogiya.
- Popular compositions in Saveri:
- Janaka sutha - Geetham
- Sarasuda Varnam composed by Kotavasal Venkatarama Iyer
- Sankari Sankuru - Syama Sastri
- Durusuga - Syama Sastri
- Janani Natajana - Syama Sastri
- Anjaneya Raghuraamam - Maharaja Swathi Thirunal
- Paripahi Ganadhipa - Maharaja Swathi Thirunal
- Pahimam Sripadmanabha - Maharaja Swathi Thirunal
- Devi Pavane (Navarathri third day krithi) - Maharaja Swathi Thirunal
- Rama Bana - Thyagaraja
- Tulasi Jagajjanani - Thyagaraja
- Daridapu Leka - Thyagaraja
- Kari Kalabha Mukham - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Sri Rajagopala - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Etu Namminavo Manasa - Patnam Subramania Iyer
- Bilahari is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 29th melakarta scale Sankarabharanam
- Bilahari is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain madhyamam or nishādham in the ascending scale. It is an audava-sampurna rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic ascending scale).
- Moorchana of Bilahari is:
- S R₂ G₃ P D₂ Ṡ
- Ṡ N₃ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S
- The notes used in this scale are
- shadjam
- chathusruthi rishabham
- anthara gandharam
- panchamam
- chathusruthi dhaivatham in ascending scale, with
- kakali nishadham and shuddha madhyamam included in descending scale.
- This rāgam also uses kaishiki nishadham (N2) as an external note (anya swara) in the descending scale. Hence it is considered a bhashanga rāgam, a scale with notes external to the parent scale.
- There are many compositions set to Bilahari rāgam.
- Raara Venugopabala - Swarajathi
- Sharanu Janakana By Purandhara Dasa
- Na jeevadhara - Tyagaraja
- Dorakuna ituvanti - Tyagaraja
- Kanukontini - Tyagaraja
- Paridaanamicchithe - Patnam Subramania Iyer
- Sri Chamundeshwari - Mysore Vasudevacharya
- This raaga's Aarohana and Avarohana, when sung in viloma krama (reverse order), results in Garudadhvani raaga.
- This is the favorite raaga of Naadaswara vidwans.
- Bilahari raaga evokes veera rasa. Hence, it is used to bring cheer in a person who is melancholic and depressed.
- It evokes joy, courage and enthusiasm in the heart of listener.
- The most auspicious time to sing this raaga is morning (6 am to 10 am).
- The equivalent of Bilahari in Hindustani music is Alaiya Bilaval.
- Kambhoji is the Janya raagam of Hari Kambhoji, which is the 28th Melakartha raagam.
- The scale of Kambhoji is also said to have been derived from Cambodia.
- The Moorchana of Kambhoji is:
- Arohana: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S
- Avarohana: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
- It has existed since the 7th century.
- Usage of "n3" in phrase "npds" makes Kambhoji a Bhaashaanga raaga (a raga that includes notes other than what is in the parent raga).
- It is a Shadava (6 notes in Arohana) Sampoorna (all 7 notes in Avarohana) raagam.
- Nishaadam is absent in aarohana, so it is a varjya raagam.
- It is a Shaadava Sampoorna Bhaashaanga Raagam.
- It is styled as a deshi raagam and a jana ranjaka raagam.
- This raagam has ample scope for aalaapana, mainly used in Raagam-Thaanam-Pallavi.
- It is frequently sung in concerts.
- Kambhoji is classified as a female raagam (Raagini).
- It conveys shringaara, haasya, kaarunya and adbhutha rasas.
- The most auspicious time to sing this raagam is in the evening (4 pm to 8 pm), though it can be sung at any time.
- The Deity of this raagam is Lord Shiva.
- Its equivalent in Hindustani music is Raaga Kamod/ Kamodi/ Khamaj.
- There are numerous references to Raga or Ragini called Kambhoji in ancient Indian musical traditions.
- Popular compositions in Kambhoji
- Devi Ni Padasarasamule - Shyama Sastri
- Sri Subrahmanyaya Namaste - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Marakatavallim - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Kailsanathena - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Gopala Krishnaaya - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Kashi Vishveshvara - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Samba Sadashivaaya - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Maa Janaki - Thyagaraja
- Elara Sri Krishna - Thyagaraja
- Evari Mata - Thyagaraja
- Mahita Pravrddha - Thyagaraja
- Sri Raghuvara - Thyagaraja
- Marimari Ninne - Thyagaraja
- Margamu Telupave - Thyagaraja
- Mohanam is a Janya Raagam of Hari Kambhoji which is the 28th Melakartha raagam.
- Another school pf thought claims that it is the Janya raagam of Kalyani which is the 68th Melakartha raagam.
- It is an Audava Audava Upaanga Raagam (It has a pentatonic scale).
- Moorchana of Mohanam is
- S R₂ G₃ P D₂ Ṡ
- Ṡ D₂ P G₃ R₂ S
- The swara sthaanas in Mohanam are
- shadjam
- chathusruthi rishabham
- anthara gaandhaaram
- panchamam
- chathusruthi dhaivatham
- It is a Varjya raagam (Madhyamam and Nishaadam are absent).
- Its Hindustani equivalent is Bhoop (or Bhopali)/ Dheshkar.
- It is one of the most common pentatonic scales across the world and is very popular in East Asian and Southeast Asian music, including China and Japan.
- It is the National Raaga of China. Most of the Chinese songs are based on this raaga.
- It has good scope for neravalu, sanchaaram and aalaapana.
- The main rasa evoked by this raga are shourya, upahuthi (challenge), shringara and karunya.
- Mohanam raagam lends itself to extensive elaboration and exploration and has many classical music and film music compositions.
- The most auspicious time to sing Mohanam is in the night, but it can be sung at all times.
- Popular compositions in Mohanam are:
- Varaveena mridupani - Geetham
- Ninnukori composed by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar is a popular Varnam in this scale.
- Cheri Yasodaku Sisuvithadu - Annamacharya
- Podagantimayya - Annamacharya
- Nannu palimpa - Thyagaraja
- Dayarani - Thyagaraja
- Rama ninnu nammina - Thyagaraja
- Evarura ninnuvina - Thyagaraja
- Bhavanutha - Thyagaraja
- Kshemam Kuru - Narayana Theertha
- Swagatham Krishna - Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi
- Kalyani is a Sampoorna Raagam.
- It is the 65th Melakartha Raaga.
- It is also referred as 'Mechakalyani' to fit it into Katapayaadi formula.
- It is the 5th raagam in the 11th chakram (Rudra chakram).
- It is a Prathi Madhyama raagam. Kalyani is the first Prathi Madhyama raga that was ever discovered.
- Moorchana of Kalyani is:
- S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 Ṡ
- Ṡ N₃ D₂ P M₂ G₃ R₂ S
- Swarasthanas of Kalyani raagam are
- Shadjam
- Chathussruthi Rishabham
- Anthara Gaandhaaram
- Prathimadhyamam
- Panchamam
- Chathussruthi Daivatham
- Kaakali Nishaadam
- Its equivalent in Hindustani music is 'Yaman'.
- Its Western equivalent is 'Lydian mode'.
- It is prominently played in South Indian weddings.
- The word Kalyani means she who causes auspicious things. It is often performed at the beginning of concerts because it is considered auspicious.
- It has scope for elaborate aalaapana.
- It is a Sarva Swara Gamaka Vaarika Rakthi raaga.
- It is also used in Hungarian music.
- The most auspicious time to sing Kalyani is 4 pm to 8 pm.
- This raga is very significant to the chart, because it is sung with all higher notes.
- Some janya raagas of Kalyani are
- Hamir Kalyani
- Amritha Kalyani
- Mohana Kalyani
- Saranga
- Nada Kalyani
- Sunadavinodini
- Yamunakalyani/ Yaman Kalyan
- Popular compositions in Kalyani are
- Nidhi chāla sukhamā - Thyagaraja
- Etavunnārā - Thyagaraja
- Sundari nī Divya - Thyagaraja
- Ammā Rāvammā - Thyagaraja
- Sandehamu Elara - Thyagaraja
- Bhajana Seyave - Thyagaraja
- Nammi Vacchina - Thyagaraja
- Vāsudēvanyani - Thyagaraja
- Kamalāmbāṃ bhajarē - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Shiva Kameshwarim Chintayeham - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
- Himādri sutē pāhimaṃ - Shyama Sastri
- Birāna varālichi - Shyama Sastri
- Talli Ninnu Nēranammi - Shyama Sastri
- Nannu brovamani cheppave - Bhadrachala Ramadasu
- Thanom nom tara thillana - Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna
