Raaga Lakshana - Mohanam/ Mohana

• 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