Asampurna Melakarta

For currently formally accepted Melakarta system, see Melakarta.

The Asampurna Melakarta (transliterated as Asaṃpūrṇa Mēḷakarta) scheme is the system of 72 ragas (musical scales) originally proposed in the 17th century by Venkatamakhin in his Chaturdanda Prakasikha.[1] This proposal used scales with notes that do not conform to the sampurna raga system. Skipped notes or repeated notes, etc., were used in some of the ragas.[1] Some of the ragas of any Melakarta system will use Vivadi swaras (discordant notes). The original system is supposed to avoid such ill-effects and was followed by the Muthuswami Dikshitar school. The naming of the original system followed Katapayadi system.[1] Muthuswami Dikshitar's compositions use the name of these ragas in the lyrics of the songs and is still referred to by those names even in radio / TV announcements of these songs.

Later Govindacharya came up with a more mathematical and regular system of 72 ragas, which is currently considered fundamental ragas (musical scales) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). These melakarta ragas were sampurna ragas. Some of the names of the ragas had to be modified to fit into the Katapayadi system.

Rules for Melakarta

In the Asampurna Melakarta system, there is no set rule for the ragas in contrast to the currently used system of Melakarta ragas.[1][2] Some ragas though are the same in both systems (like 15 - Mayamalavagowla and 29 - Dheerasankarabharanam), and in some cases the scales are same, while names are different (like 8 - Janatodi and Hanumatodi, 56 - Chamaram and Shanmukhapriya).[1][2][3]

History

The mela system of ragas was first propounded by Raamamaatya in his work Svaramelakalanidhi c. 1550. He is considered the father of mela system of ragas. Later Venkatamakhin expounded in the 17th century in his work Caturdandi Prakaasikaa a new mela system known today as melakarta.[1] He had made some bold and controversial claims and defined somewhat arbitrarily 6 swaras from the known 12 semitones, at that time, to arrive at 72 melakarta ragas. The controversial parts relate to double counting of R2 (and similar swaras) and his exclusive selection of madyamas for which there is no specific reasoning (also known as asampurna melas as opposed to sampurna ragas). However, today the 72 melakarta ragas use a standardized pattern, unlike Venkatamakhin's pattern, and have gained significant following. Govindhacharya is credited with standardization of rules and giving a different name for such standard ragas, which have different structure but same swaras as that proposed by Venkatamakhin.[1] The scales in this page are those proposed by Govindhacharya.

Chakras

The 72 melakarta ragas are split into 12 groups called chakras, each containing 6 ragas. The ragas within the chakra differ only in the dhaivatham and nishadham notes (D and N), as illustrated below. The name of each of the 12 chakras suggest their ordinal number as well.[2][4]

Table of Melakarta ragas [1][5]

The 72 melakarta ragas can be divided into two parts: suddha Madhyamam and prati Madhyamam ragas. See Katapayadi sankhya for more information on how to derive the various swaras of a raga from its melakarta number. See swaras in Carnatic music for explanation of the notations like R1, G2, N2, etc.

'Shuddha Madhyamam ragas'
No.RagaArohanaAvarohanaSampurna raga
1.Indu Chakra
1Kanakambari S R1 M1 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M1 G1 R1 S Kanakangi
2Phenadyuti S R1 M1 P D1 P N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M1 G1 R1 S Ratnangi
3Ganasamavarali S R1 M1 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M1 G1 R1 S Ganamurti
4Bhanumati S R1 M1 P D2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M1 G1 R1 S Vanaspati
5Manoranjani S R1 M1 P D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 P M1 G1 R1 S Manavati
6Tanukeerti S R1 M1 P N3 S' S' N3 D2 N3 P M1 G1 R1 S Tanarupi
2. Netra Chakra
7Senagrani S R1 G2 R1 M1 G2 M1 P N1 D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M1 G2 M1 G2 R1 S Senavati
8Janatodi S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N2 S' S' N2 D1 M1 P G2 R1 S Hanumatodi
9Dhunibhinnashadjam S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S Dhenuka
10Natabharanam S G2 M1 P N2 D2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 N2 P N2 P M1 G2 G2 R1 R1 S Natakapriya
11Kokilaravam S R1 M1 M1 P M1 P D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 D2 P M1 G2 R1 S Kokilapriya
12Rupavati S R1 M1 P S' S' S' N3 D3 N3 P M1 G2 S Rupavati
3. Agni Chakra
13Geyahejjujji S R1 M1 G3 M1 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S Gayakapriya
14Vativasantabhairavi[1] (Dhativasantabhairavi[2][3]) S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N2 S' S' N2 D1 M1 G3 M1 P M1 G3 R1 S Vakulabharanam
15Mayamalavagowla S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S Mayamalavagowla
16Toyavegavahini S R1 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M1 G3 R1 S Chakravakam
17Chayavati S R1 G3 M1 D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R1 S Suryakantam
18Jayashuddhamalavi S R1 G3 M1 P N3 S' S' N3 D3 N3 P M1 G3 R1 S Hatakambari
4. Veda Chakra
19Jhankarabhramari S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N1 D1 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M1 G2 R2 G2 R2 S Jhankaradhwani
20Nariritigaula S G2 R2 G2 M1 N2 D1 M1 N2 N2 S' S' N2 D1 M1 G2 M1 P M1 G2 R2 S Natabhairavi
21Kiranavali S R2 M1 P D1 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 P D1 P M1 P G2 R2 S Keeravani
22Shree raga S R2 M1 P N2 S' S' N2 P D2 N2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S Kharaharapriya
23Gourivelavali S R2 G2 S R2 M1 P D2 S' S' N3 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S Gourimanohari
24Viravasantam S R2 M1 P N3 D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M1 M1 R2 G2 S Varunapriya
5. Bana Chakra
25Sharavati S M1 G3 M1 P D1 N1 D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M1 G3 R2 S Mararanjani
26Tarangini S R2 G3 P D1 N2 D1 P D1 S' S' D1 P G3 R2 S R2 G3 M1 G3 R2 S Charukesi
27Sowrasena S R2 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M1 G3 R2 G3 S Sarasangi
28Harikedaragaula S R2 M1 P N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S Harikambhoji
29 Dheerasankarabharanam S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S Dheerasankarabharanam
30Nagabharanam S R2 G3 M1 P N3 D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M1 G3 M1 R2 S Naganandini
6. Rutu Chakra
31Kalavati S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N1 D1 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M1 R3 G3 M1 R3 S Yagapriya
32Ragachudamani S M1 R3 G3 M1 P N2 N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M1 M1 R3 S Ragavardhini
33Gangatarangini S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 P D1 M1 M1 G3 M1 R3 S Gangeyabhushani
34Bhogachayanata S R3 G3 M1 P N2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 N2 P S' N2 P M1 R3 S Vagadheeswari
35Shailadeshakshi S M1 G3 P D2 S' S' N3 D2 S N3 P M1 R3 S Shulini
36Chalanata S R3 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M1 R3 S Chalanata
'Prati Madhyamam ragas'
7. Rishi Chakra
37Saugandhini S G1 R1 G1 M2 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M2 G1 R1 S Salagam
38Jaganmohanam S R1 G1 M2 P D1 N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M2 G1 R1 S Jalarnavam
39Dhalivarali S G1 R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M2 G1 R1 S Jhalavarali
40Nabhomani S G1 R1 M2 P D2 P N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M2 G1 R1 S Navaneetam
41Kumbhini S G1 R1 G1 M2 P N3 D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 P M2 G1 R1 S Pavani
42Ravikriya S G1 R1 G1 M2 P N3 D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M2 G1 R1 S Raghupriya
8. Vasu Chakra
43Girvani S R1 G2 M2 P D1 N1 D1 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M2 G2 R1 S Gavambhodi
44Bhavani S R1 G2 M2 P D1 P N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M2 G2 R1 S Bhavapriya
45Shivapantuvarali S R1 G2 M2 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M2 G2 R1 S Shubhapantuvarali
46Stavarajam S R1 M2 P D2 S' S' N2 D2 P M2 G2 S Shadvidamargini
47Sauviram S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 M2 G2 R1 S Suvarnangi
48Jivantika S R1 G2 M2 P D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M2 G2 R1 S Divyamani
9. Brahma Chakra
49Dhavalangam S R1 G3 M2 P D1 S' S' N1 P M2 G3 R1 S Dhavalambari
50Namadeshi S R1 G3 M2 P D1 N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M2 G3 R1 S Namanarayani
51Kashiramakriya S G3 R1 G3 M2 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M2 G3 R1 S Kamavardani
52Ramamanohari S R1 G3 M2 P D2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M2 G3 R1 S Ramapriya
53Gamakakriya S R1 G3 M2 P D2 P S' S' N3 D2 P M2 G3 R1 S Gamanashrama
54Vamshavati S R1 G3 M2 P D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M2 G3 R1 S Vishwambari
10. Disi Chakra
55Shamalam S R2 G2 M2 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M2 G2 R2 S Shamalangi
56Chamaram S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M2 G2 R2 S Shanmukhapriya
57Sumadhyuti S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M2 G2 R2 S Simhendramadhyamam
58Deshisimharavam S R2 G2 M2 P D2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M2 G2 R2 S Hemavati
59Dhaamavati S R2 G2 M2 P D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 P M2 G2 R2 S Dharmavati
60Nishadham S R2 G2 M2 P D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M2 G2 R2 S Neetimati
11. Rudra Chakra
61Kuntalam S R2 G3 M2 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M2 G3 R2 S Kantamani
62Ratipriya S R2 G3 M2 P D1 N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M2 G3 R2 S Rishabhapriya
63Gitapriya S R2 G3 M2 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M2 G3 R2 S Latangi
64Bhushavati S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M2 G3 R2 S Vachaspati
65Shantakalyani S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 P M2 G3 R2 S Mechakalyani
66Chaturangini S R2 G3 M2 P D3 N3 S' S' N3 P M2 G3 R2 S Chitrambari
12. Aditya Chakra
67Santanamanjari S R3 G3 M2 P D1 S' S' N1 D1 P M2 R3 S Sucharitra
68Joti S R3 G3 M2 P D1 N2 S' S' N2 D1 P M2 G3 S Jyoti swarupini
69Dhautapanchamam S R3 G3 M2 P D1 N3 S' S' N3 D1 P M2 R3 G3 S Dhatuvardani
70Nasamani S R3 G3 M2 P D2 N2 S' S' N2 D2 P M2 R3 G3 S Nasikabhushani
71Kusumakaram S R3 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S' S' N3 D2 P M2 R3 G3 S Kosalam
72Rasamanjari S R3 G3 S P M2 P N3 D3 N3 S' S' N3 D3 N3 P M2 P R3 G3 S Rasikapriya

Popular Melakarta scheme

Main article: Melakarta

Govindacharya learnt the 72 ragas scheme above of Venkatamakin and later proposed the symmetrical scales that is more in vogue today in terms of the official Melakarta scheme.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shree Muthuswami Dikshitar Keerthanaigal, by A Sundaram Iyer, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  3. 1 2 Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  4. South Indian Music Book III, by Prof. P Sambamoorthy, Published 1973, The Indian Music Publishing House
  5. Pocket book of Melakarta ragas from CarnaticIndia website

External links

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