Carnatic Raaga

[vishnu narayanan]

1. Abheri

Ascending scale with Shadjam at C/S

descending scale with shadjam at C/S

• ārohaṇa : S G2 M1 P N2 S
• avarohaṇa : S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S

It is a Janya raga (derived scale), whose Melakarta raga (parent, also known as janaka) is Kharaharapriya, 22nd in the 72 Melakarta raga system.
A very popular composition in Abheri raga is Nagumomu Ganaleni, a kriti by Thyagaraja, one of the three eminent composers in Carnatic music. Another well known composition is Bhajare Re Manasa, a kriti written by Mysore Vasudevachar. Muthuswami Dikshitar has composed Veenabheri in this raga. However, the Abheri of Muthuswami Dikshitar might be quite different from what is considered Abheri today.

you can listen and download eppadi paadinaro,a song composed in abheri raaga here

http://www.ragasurabhi.com/carnatic-music-mp3/raga-abheri-carnatic-eppadi_paadinaro.mp3

 

[vishnu narayanan]

2. Abhogi

Arohanam: S R2 G2 M1 D2 S
Avarohanam: S D2 M1 G2 R2 S

It is a pentatonic scale, an audava or owdava raga. It is a derived scale (janya raga), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes). Ābhōgi has been borrowed from Carnatic music into Hindustani music and is also quite popular in the latter.
Abhogi is a scale that is used for compositions in a medium to fast tempo. This scale has been used by many composers and there are lots of compositions in classical music. It has been used to score film music too.

you can listen and download sabapathikku,a song composed in abhogi here

http://www.ragasurabhi.com/carnatic-music-mp3/raga-abhogi-carnatic-sabapathikku.mp3

 

[vishnu narayanan]

3. Ahiri

Arohanam: S R1 S G3 M1 P D1 N2 S
Avarohanam: S N2 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S

Ahiri (pronounced āhiri) is a raagam in Carnatic music. It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), and associated with the 14th melakartha scale Vakulabharanam. It has also been associated with the 8th melakarta scale Hanumatodi. Though it has all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending and descending scale, the presence of zig-zag notes (vakra swaras) makes it a janya rāgam.

Ahiri is an ancient rāgam mentioned in Sangitha Mankaradha and Sangita samayasara. It is a difficult rāgam and is said to evoke sorrow (karuna rasa or pathos). It is considered an early-morning scale.

you can listen and download challare ramachandruni,a song composed in ahiri here

http://www.ragasurabhi.com/carnatic-music-mp3/raga-ahiri-carnatic-challare_ramachandruni.mp3

 

[vishnu narayanan]

4. Amritavarshini

Arohanam: S G3 M2 P N3 S
Avarohanam: S N3 P M2 G3 S

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, panchamam, kakali nishādam).
.It is an audava rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes).

It is a common pentatonic of Carnatic music and is believed to produce rain. It is said that the Carnatic composer Musthuswami Dikshitar brought rain at Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu, India by singing his composition Aanandaamrutakarshini Amrutavarshini.

you can download and listen ennai nee maravaadhe,a song composed in amritavarshini here

http://www.ragasurabhi.com/carnatic-music-mp3/raga-amrithavarshini-carnatic-ennai_nee_maravaadhe.mp3

 

[vishnu narayanan]

5. Ananda Bhairavi

Arohanam: S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 P S
Avarohanam: S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S

It is a sampoorna ragam– rāgam having all 7 sswaras, but it is not a melakarta rāgam, as it has vakra prayogam (zig-zag notes in scale) and uses anya swaram (external note) in comparison with its parent rāgam. The anya swaram is the usage of chathusruthi dhaivatham (D2) in some phrases of the rāgam.

Anandabhairavi ragam is also a bhashanga rāgam, since it uses more than one anya swaram. Anya swaram of a rāgam is the swaram which does not belong to the arohana or avarohana of its melakarta (parent rāgam), but it is sung in prayogams (phrases used in raga alapana, kalpanaswarams).
It is said that Tyagaraja and ,Muthuswami Dikshitar do not use any of the anya swarams in their compositions.

Anandabhairavi also has unique swara patterns both in manodharma (impromptu improvisations by performer) and in its compositions. The popular patterns are SGGM, SP, and SGMP. The musician isn't allowed to stay long on nishadam, this characteristic distinguishes it from Reetigowla. Few allied ragas (similar) to this are Reetigowla and Huseni.

you can download and listen singara velavan,a song composed in Ananda Bhairavi here..

http://www.ragasurabhi.com/carnatic-music-mp3/raga-ananda_bhairavi-carnatic-singara_velavan.mp3