Hamsadhvani
Carnatic music |
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Concepts |
Compositions |
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Hamsadhvani (meaning Sound of Swans) also spelled as Hansadhwani, is a rÄga in Carnatic music (musical scale of Carnatic tradition of Indian classical music). It is an audava rÄgam (or owdava rÄga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a janya rÄga (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes).
Hamsadhvani is also extensively used in Hindustani music and said to be borrowed into it from Carnatic music.[1] It was created by the Carnatic composer Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735–1817)[2] and brought into Hindustani music by Ustad Aman Ali Khan of the Bhendibazaar gharana.
Structure and Lakshana

Hamsadhvani does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[1][3] in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its Ärohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
- Ärohaṇa : S R2 G3 P N3 S
- avarohaṇa : S N3 P G3 R2 S

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chatushruti rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam and kakali nishadam.
Hamsadhvani may be considered to be a janya rÄgam of Shankarabharanam, the 29th Melakarta rÄgam, although it can also be considered to be derived from other melakarta rÄgams, Sarasangi, Kalyani or Latangi, by dropping both madhyamam and dhaivatam. It is an elusive question as to whether Hamsadhvani is a janya of this or that melakarta. In Hindustani music it is associated with Bilaval thaat (equivalent of Shankarabharanam).
Compositions
Hamsadhvani rÄgam lends itself for elaboration and exploration and has many compositions in both classical music and film music. It is usually sung at the beginning of a performance.[1] There are many kritis (compositions) in praise of Lord Ganesha set in this musical scale.
- RaghunÄyaka and ÅšrÄ« Raghukula by Tyagaraja in Telugu
- VÄtÄpi Gaṇapatiṃ by Muthuswami Dikshitar in Sanskrit
- Varanamukha vÄ by Koteeswara Iyer
- MÅ«lÄdhÄra mÅ«rti and Karunai seivai by Papanasam Sivan in Sanskrit and Tamil
- Gajavadana beduvae by Purandaradasa
- VinÄyakÄ by Veena Kuppayyar in Sanskrit
- Varavallabha Ramaṇa by G. N. Balasubramaniam
- Gaṃ Gaṇapatē by Muthiah Bhagavatar
- PÄhi ÅšripatÄ“ by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
- Sundar GopÄlaṃ by Devaki Pandit
- Va Va Va Kanna Va by Ilayaraaja rendered by Mano (singer) and K S Chithra in Tamil
- Varuvai Arulvai Shantanayagi by Manachanallur Giridharan rendered by P. Unni Krishnan
- Tumbikkai Andavane by Manachanallur Giridharan rendered by P. Unni Krishnan
Film Songs and Popular Compositions
- "Vellai Pookal" from the movie "Kannathil Muthamittal"
- "Sriranga Ranganathanin" from the movie "Mahanadi"
- "Let me see the love" by "Colonial Cousins"
Related rÄgas
Graha bhedham
Hamsadhvani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rÄgam, Nagasvaravali. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rÄgam. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Hamsadhvani.
Scale similarities
- Mohanam is a rÄgam which has chatushruti dhaivatam in place of the nishadam. Structures are shown in second table.
- Amritavarshini is a rÄgam which has Prati Madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in first table.
- Gambhiranata is a rÄgam which has shuddha madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in first table.
- Niroshta is a rÄgam which has chatushruti dhaivatam in place of the panchamam. Structures are shown in second table.
RÄgam | Åšruti Tonic | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hamsadhvani | C | S | R2 | G3 | P | N3 | S' | |||||||
Amritavarshini | C | S | G3 | M2 | P | N3 | S' | |||||||
Gambhiranata | C | S | G3 | M1 | P | N3 | S' |
RÄgam | Åšruti Tonic | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hamsadhvani | C | S | R2 | G3 | P | - | N3 | S' | ||||||
Mohanam | C | S | R2 | G3 | P | D2 | - | S' | ||||||
Niroshta | C | S | R2 | G3 | - | D2 | N3 | S' |
In Hindustani music
Vadi & Samavadi
Vadi
Re
Samavadi
Pa
Pakad or Chalan
Re Ga Re Ni Pa Sa Re Sa
The packad is the one where one can identify to which raga does the composition belongs.
Organization & Relationships
Time
Second quarter of night.
Important Recordings
- Amir Khan, Ragas Hansadhwani and Malkauns, on HMV LP (long-playing record), EMI-EASD1357
- Lagi Lagana (Drut – Teental) by A. Kanan in Meghe Dhaka Tara
- Ja Tose Nahin Bolun Kanhaiya by Lata Mangeshkar in Parivar (1956)
- Huns Dhun by Mekaal Hasan Band
- Lagi Lagan by Ustad Rashid Khan
- "Lady" by Colonial Cousins on SONY
- "Song of the Swan" by Shyam Panchmatia on RCA Records
References
Literature
Bor, Joep (ed). Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane (co-authors) The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Zenith Media, London: 1999.
External links
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