Raga of the Week - KALYANI
Swami Pallasena
My earlier posting did not get through. SO I am
posting it once again/ Narayanaswami
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Raga of the Week: KALYANI (Long)
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Here is a detailed write-up on Kalyani (Mecha Kalyani - Shanta Kalyani).
I have listed around 200 compositions. Readers can add more.
(I am re-posting it, since the original posting did not get
through!)
Thanks.
Narayanaswami (sw...@math.mun.ca)
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Ragam KALYANI (Melam 65)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If Sankarabharanam is the flagship of the Suddha Madhyama
segment of the Melakartha Ragams (1 - 36), then, Kalyani
takes the position among the Parthi Madhyama Melakartha
ragams (37-72). Kalyani is the Melam No. 65, and is called
Mechakalyani to confirm to the Katapayadi Sankhya counting
to obtain the number 65. This is the 5th Ragam in the
9th Rudra Chakram. The Dikshitar school uses the nomenclature
Santha Kalyani, in the asampoorna mela paddhathi.
The notes are Sa, Chatusruthi Ri, Antara Ga, Prati Ma,
Chatusruti Dha, and Kakali Ni. It is the corresponding
Prati Madhyama counterpart of Melam 29: Sankarabharanam.
Kalyani is a raga of immense scope for Alapana, and is
a parent scale for a huge number of Janya Ragams.
All the notes are rendered as Tivra Svaras, and with
gamakams, and all are Raga Chaya svarams. Ga and Pa
are amsa svaras, Ri, Ga, Dha, Ni are nyasa svaras.
Gamakas like Kampitha, Spuritha, Tripuccha, when
added to the svara sancharas add an extrta dimension of beauty to
Kalyani. Rare is any concert that goes without a rendition
of a detailed Krithi or Pallavi in Kalyani, or at least as a
segmental Ragam in a Ragamalika or Virutham..
Even though it can be sung at all times, Kalyani is as
evening time ragam. It is usually sung at the beginning segment
of a concert, since its Tivra swaras create the proper
musical atmosphere. For the same reason, it is employed
in Pallavi exposition, Ragamalikas, Slokams, Viruthams,
and even in Thillanas. Kalyani figures in operas and various forms
of dance-dramas. Many musicians have chistled out exquisite versions of
Kalyani in the last sixty years or so. Some of the stalwarts
who have adorned Kalyani with their music are:
Ariyakkudi ramanuja Iyengar (Nidhi chala sukhama)
GNB (Vasudevayani)
Semmangudi (Ethavunara)
Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer (Sundari Nee Divya)
Madhurai Mani Iyer (Kamalambam Bhajare).
The Ragam Tanam Pallavi line ``Un Darisanam Kitaikkumo
Nataraja Dayanidhe'' has been immortalized by musicians
like GNB, Madhurai Mani Iyer.
Balamuralikrishna renders a Thillana ``Tanom nom tara tillana''
in Kalyani, in the style called ``Thayam'' singing, where even
though the Raga rendered is Kalyani, it sounds like a different
ragam in each line.
Hindusthani Ragam Yaman (Yaman That) is the same as Kalyani.
There are numerous Jugal Bandhis featuring the fusion of
Kalyani - Yaman by Carnatic - Hindushani musicians.
(Balamurali -Bhimsen Joshi; Seshagopalan-Ajoy Chakrabarti;
Ramani - Rajam; Ramani - Pandit Jog; Balamurali -
Hariprasad Chaurasia, and so on).
Kalyani is supposed to be the earliest Prati Madhyama Ragam
that was known in musical history. It is a murchana karaka
raga, and by the process of model shift of tonic, we can
derive Harikambhoji, Natabhairavi, Sankarabharanam, Kharaharapriya
and Todi by taking as adhara Shadjas: Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha,
and Ni, rtespectively.
Tha Pann equivalent of Kalyani is Arumpalai.
Kalyani is also featured in Hungarian Music.
Tyagaraja's famous krithi: Nidhi Chala Sukhama, stand out
as a masterpiece. It is believed that the Tanjavur ruler,
hearing the fame of Tyagaraja, invited him to his court, and wanted
him to sing in his praise. Tyagaraja who was against
``nara stuthi'', poured out this historic song to his
representatives. The song asserts that ``Ramuni Sannidhi Seva''
to any real ``nidhi''.
In 1935, when the Tamil daily newspaper, Swadesamitran,
celebrated the golden jubilee, Ariyakkudi ramanuja Iyengar
composed the song: Sundaramana Swadesamitran, in Kalyani, and
sang it on the occcasion (and a disc was released on this occasion.,
Film music has taken advantage of the beautiful melody of
Kalyani. From the early talkie days with Papanasam Sivan,
till as recently as the modern movie Sindhubhairavi, there are
numerous film songs in Kalyani.
Janya Ragams:
^^^^^^^^^^^^
There are more than 120 Janya Ragams for Kalyani, but the
most popular ones are: Saranga, MohanaKalyani,
Yamuna Kalyani, Hamir Kalyani, Vandanadharini,
Sunadavinodini, SarangaTarangini, AMrta Behag,
and Bhoop Kalyani. Some of the
not so popular Janya ragams are: Chandrakantham,
Maithrabhavani, Kunthalakusumavali, Kaumodam,
Suddharathnabhanu, Kuntalasrikanthi, Andari, Silangi,
Suddhakosalam, Pramodini. (D. Pattammal and M. Dandapani
mention 122 Janya Ragams of Kalyani in their book:
Ragapravaham).
Mohana Kalyani is a pleasing ragam obtained by fusing together
Mohanam and Kalyani. There is also a Hamsa Kalyani,
a creation of Ashok Madhav (Pittsburgh), which is obtained
by the fusion of Hamsadhwani and Kalyani.
A modern composer, Swarna Venkatesa Dikshitar of Chidambaram
has a composition in Kalyani: Swarna kala Bhairavam in an
unusual Tala structure of 13 matras (9+2+2) Sankirna Triputa
(K. V. Narayanaswami popularized his compositions).
COMPOSITIONS IN KALYANI (Very Loooooooong!! contains around 200 entries)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LAKSHYA GITAM (1)
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Re re Trisulini (Tisra Triputa) - Venkata Makhin
GEETAM (2)
^^^^^^
Kamalaja dala (Triputa)
Sridhara Surhvara (Triputa) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
SWARA JATI (1)
^^^^^^^^^^
Sa Ni Dha Pa (Rupakam) - Swathi Tirunal
VARNAM (5)
^^^^^^
Kamalamba Ninnukori (Adi) - Ramaswami Dikshitar
Vanajakshi Ro (Adi) - Ramnad Srinivasa Iyengar
Vanajakshi (Ata) - Pallavi Gopala Iyer
Sami niveyani (Adi) - Vadivelu
Sudati Ninnukori (Ata) - Ponnaiah Pillai
SWARA STHANA PADAM (1)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Parikkanni sa dha mapa (Tisra Eka m) - Subbarama Dikshitar
PADA VARNAM
^^^^^^^^^^^
Satura Kamini (Adi) - Swathi Tirunal
MANIPRAVALA KRITHI (1)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kindu ceivinan (Rupakam) - Swathi Tirunal
KRITHIS (165 +)
^^^^^^
Bhajare Re Chita (Misra Chapu) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Kamalamba Bhajare (Adi) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Ganapethe (Rupakam) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Kumbhesvare na Samrakshitoham (Adi) - Mutwamiami Dikshitar
Kumbhesvaraya (Adi) - Mutwamiami Dikshitar
Brahmavidyambike (Adi) - Mutwamiami Dikshitar
Jnanaprasunambike (Rupakam) - Mutwamiami Dikshitar
Sri Mangalambika (Ata) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Sri Madhurambika (Khanda Chapu) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Sivakameswarim (Adi) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Abhayamba (Adi) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Kamakshim (Rupakam) - Muthuswami Dikshitar
Sri Minakshi Pahima m Amba (Adi) - Ambi Dikshitar
Parikkanni (Tisra Ekam) - Subbarama Dikshitar
Kantimati Karunamrta (Rupakam) - Subbarama Dikshitar
Nidhichala SUkhama (Misra Chapu)- Tyagaraja
Ethavunara (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Sive Pahi mam (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Nammi Vachina (Rupakam) - Tyagaraja
Bhajana Seyave (Rupakam) - Tyagaraja
Evarimadugu (Rupakam) - Tyagaraja
Sundari Ni Divya (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Amma Ravamma (JHampa) - Tyagaraja
Vasudevayani (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Mandagamana (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Bhajare Raghuveeram (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Enduku Nimanasu Adi) - Tyagaraja
Isa Pahim(Rupakam) - Tyagaraja
Evaradaa madugudura(Triputa) - Tyagaraja
Kamala Bhavadu (Misra Chapu) - Tyagaraja
Sandehamu Elara (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Raamaa neevadi (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Rama Rama Napai (Misra Chapu) - Tyagaraja
Sandehamu Yelkara (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Ninnanavalasi (Chapu) - Tyagaraja
Vachunu Hari (Adi) - Tyagaraja
Talli Ninnu Nera (Misra Laghu) -Syama sastri
Birana Vara (Rupakam) -Syama sastri
Himadri Suthe (Rupakam) -Syama sastri
Adri suta (Adi) - Swathi Tirunal
Paripahi mamayi Paramapurusha (Capu)- Swathi Tirunal
Pankajalocana Pahi (Misra Capu) - Swathi Tirunal
Pahimam Sri Vageswari (CHaou) - Swathi Tirunal
Yojaya Padamanilane (Triputa) - Swathi Tirunal
Sarasalochana (Rupakam) - Swathi Tirunal
Sarasa suvadana (Adi) -Swathi Tirunal
Drishto Tribhuvana (Adi) -Swathi Tirunal
Ninuvina (Adi) - Subbaraya Sastri
Nijadasa varada (Adi) - Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer
Chidambaram En manam (Adi)- Papanasam Sivan
Chindai Thelindu (Adi)- Papanasam Sivan
Kamala Malaridal (Misra Chapu)- Papanasam Sivan
Kameswara Kripakara (Adi)- Papanasam Sivan
Padam Nambinen (Adi)- Papanasam Sivan
Rama idu Darumama (Adi) - Papanasam Sivan
Sridhara Venkatesam (Adi)- Papanasam Sivan
Sundareswarena (Adi)- Papanasam Sivan
Teril Erinen (Rupakam)- Papanasam Sivan
Sarasakshi Ni (Ata)- Muthiah Bhagavathar
Lambodara Sodara (Ekam) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
Muruganukku Oriru (Adi) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
Pankajanabham (Adi) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
Pa-supathi Pada sevaname (Adi) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
Sampadprade (Adi) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
Siva Siva Shambho (Adi) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
Ambike Arulsey (Misra Chapu) - Nilakantan Sivan
Arumugam (Rupakam) - Nilakantan Sivan
Neeye Manam (Adi) - Ramaswami Sivan
Sarasvathi (Rupakam ) - Tiruvottiyur Tyagarajan
Parengum (Adi) - Ghanam Krishna Iyer
Jessina Papamulu (Misra Chapu) - Pallavi Sesha Iyer
Mahishasura Marddhanim (Rupakam) - Pallavi Gopala Iyer
Needu Charana (Adi) - Pallavi Gopala Iyer
Kailasapathe (Adi) - Mysore Vasudevachariar
Kanikaramuto (Adi) - Mysore Vasudevachariar
Namosthuthe (Adi) - Mysore Vasudevachariar
Neeve Gatiyani (Adi) - - Mysore Vasudevachariar
Enranidaru (Khanda Chapu) - Periyasami Thooran
Kunrureva Vel (Jhampa) - Periyasai Thooran
Sri Venkateswara (Rupakam) - Periyasami Thooran
Sarasa Varade (Rupakam) Veeena Siyeshanna
Sarasvathi Nannepudu (Rupakam ) - Vina Kuppayyar
Emani Varnimu (Misra Chapu) _ Mysore Sadasiva Rao
Kanugonu Dhanyudu (Triputa) - Mysore sadasiva rao
O Rajarajeswari (Adi) - Mysore Sadasiva Rao
Tavaka karakamalena (Ata) - Akkul Swamigal
Kannatalli nannu brova - Anayya
Manam vaittaru l - Anayya
Appo posicheppiyo - Anayya
Pennivalalla Rama (Adi) - Arunachala Kavi
Pattapadukelai (Adi) Arunachala Kavi
Inge Irukka Nam (Adi) - Arunachala Kavi
Duriyodhana Un (adI)- Arunachala Kavi
Kodiyanan (Adi) - Arinagirinathar
Umbara Tharu (Adi) - Arinagirinathar
O Rama ni nama (Adi) _ Bhadrachala Ramadas
Emayya Rama (Misra Capu) - Bhadrachala Ramadasa
Innai Galge (MIsra Chapu) - Bhadrachala Ramadasa
Nannu Brova manu (Adi) - Bhadrachala Ramadasa
Rama Dayajudave (Rupakam) - Bhadrachala Ramadasa
Unadu mahimai (Adi) - Gopalakrishna Bharathi
Darisanam Seydare (Adi) - Gopalakrishna Bharathi
Ayya Sollu (Rupakam) - Gopalakrishna Bharathi
Daivam Unden poru (Adi) - Kavikunjara Bharathi
Anganum Avar (Adi) - Kavikunjara Bharathi
Kandukan Kali (Triputa) - Kavikunjara Bharathi
Sivayoga Nayaki (Rupakam) - Kavikunjara Bharathi
Sri Devi (Adi) - Kavikunjara Bharathi
Sadanandame (Adi) - Kotiswara Iyer
Sambho Sankara (Adi) - Kotiswara Iyer
Appadi Ippadi (Ata) - Muthuthandavar
Ethanai Thavam (Adi) - Muthuthandavar
Sabhayinil (Ekam) - Muthuthandavar
Sevikka Vendumayya (Adi) - Muthuthandavar
Sivachgidambarane (Adi) - Muthuthandavar
Varuvar Varuvar (Adi) - Muthuthandavar
Ninnubhaso Nimishamu (Triputa) - Ponnaya Pillai
Nee Sari Sati (Adi) - Ponnaya Pillai
Samiyai Azahithu Vadi (Adi) - Ponnaya Pillai
Dayamado (Adi) _ Purandharadasa
Anjikinnayatha (Misra Chapu) _ Purandharadasa
Hariya Ombathu (Adi)_ Purandharadasa
Kanene En kanavan (Adi) - Subrahmanya Bharathi
Urukkellam (Adi) - Vedanayakam Pillai
Unnai Enakku (Ata) - Vedanayakam Pillai
Inayagillu (adi) - Vedanayakam Pillai
Inda Upakatam (Adi) - Vedanayakam Pillai
Aviralamagu (Triputa) - Cheyyur Chengalvaraya Sastri
Eamamama Minayana (Rupakam)- Chengalvaraya Sastri
Varahi Mam Pahi (Adi) - Chengalvaraya Sastri
Kamalasani Sundari (Rupakam) G. N. Balasubrahmanyam
Birana Brovayide (Adi) - Tarangampadi Panchanada Iyer
Sarasija - Uthukkadu venkatasubba Iyer
Ekantha Bhakthi - Uthukkadu Venkatasubba Iyer
Sadgurunatha - Uthukkadu Venkatasubba Iyer
Pranatartihara (Adi) - Gharbhapuri Chinna Devudu
Kaci ra ngan krpai - Ghanam Krishna Iyer
Aravamudaraippole (Adi) - Ghanam Krishna Iyer
Ni Kedayato (Tisra Eka m) - Kuppusamayya
Samaja hara hare (Adi) - Kuttikunju Thangachi (daughter of Iriyamman
Thampi)
Thayai potrungal - T. Lakshmanan Pillai
Arannira (Adi) - T. Lakshmanan Pillai
Nenja Gottayil (Adi) - T. Lakshmanan Pillai
Kanu koni papavimukta (Ata) - Mathubhutayya
Sri Narahari (Tisra Triputa - Melattur Virabhadrayya)
Nidu carana pankajamule (Adi) - Pallavi Gopala Iyer
Mahisasura Marddhani (Tisra Eka m) - Pallavi Gopala Iyer
Bhaja re Gopala m (Misra Capu) - Sadasiva Brahmendra
Purna Bodhitoham - Sadasiva Brahmendra
Devi Minakshi (Rupakam) - Singaracharyulu
Nitya kalyani (Rupakam) - Sitarammayya
Ingadayarada (Adi) - Srinivasayya
Matim Dehi (Adi) - Vanamamalia Brothers
Modern Composers
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sri Sabareeswara (Chapu) - Thulaseevanam
Sri Manjunatha Vibho (Adi) - Thulaseevanam
Mamava (Adi) - Thulaseevanam
Tuti Sey Maname (Adi) - Ambujam Krishna
Unnai ALlal (Adi) - Ambujam Krishna
Un Padamalarinai (Adi) - Ambujam Krishna
Gati nive (Rupakam) - Balamuralikrishna
Swarna Kala Bhairavam (Sankeerna Triputa) - Swarna Venkatesa Dikshitar
Narahari Narayanam (Adi) - Ashok Madhav
Swayam Vara (Adi) - Bangalore Mukund
Kanja Lochani (Adi - Tisram) - D. Pattammal
Nitya Kalyani (Misra Chapu) - Cuddalore Subrahmanyam
plus many many more (the list is too incomplete!!)
PADAM (15)
^^^^^
Endu Mama (Adi) - Swathi Tirunal
Kintu Cheyvu (Adi) - Swathi Tirunal
Teliya vaccenaru (Misra Chapu)- Ksetrajna
Rara Ayyalu (Adi) - Ksetrajna
Ninnu Ne marathuna (Matyam) - Ksetrajna
Neepomudu seyaka (Misra Chapu)- Ksetrajna
Entu mama (Adi) - Ksetrajna
Niluvina Nilivedu (Misra Chapu) - Ksetrajna
Iddhari sandhuna (Kshetrajna)
Na manasu - Kshetrajna
Thani prayamu ( Laya Tharangini) - Ksethrajna
Amma ituvandi - Ksethrajna
Etahi kkandu (Rupakam) -Subramonia Iyer
Tairyalunnai (Adi) -Subramonia Iyer
Tattai Mozhiyal (Adi) -Subramonia Iyer
THILLANA (4)
^^^^^^^^
Nadiru diru (Tripu\ta) - Swathi Tirunal
Thim tara tirana (Simhanandana Talam) - Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer
Ti m tara tani (Adi) - Mysore Vasudevachar
- Vina Seshanna
JAVALI (1)
^^^^^^
Entati kuluke (Rupakam) - Pattabhiramayya
RAGAMALIKAS featuring KALYANI
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Valaci (Navaraga varnam}) (Kothavasal Venkatarama Iyer)
Nitya kalyani (Sitaramayya)
Jaya Jaya Gokula bala (Narayana Tirtha)
Amba ninnu nera nammite (Garbhapuri)
Ni sarilerani (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Garavamu Ganna dora (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Kaminchina Kalavati ra (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Vedukato (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Amba ninnu (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Prantarttihara (Subbarama Dikshitar)\
I Kanakambari (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Karpagavalli Ni (?) popularized by M. Santhanam
All the 72 Mela ragamalika compositions must obviously feature
Kalyani on the 65th line in the Carana m. Maha Vaidyanatha
Iyer's mammoth Mela ragamalika has the line
`` Me, Ca, Kalya nim vacam disati, mocakad\yini ramase'';
the 72 Raganga Ragamalika by Subbarama Dikshitar ( Matu by one Krishna
Kavi) has the text `` Mati Kalyaniyosagu raganga
ragamalikam gonipremamiraga''.
RAGAMALIKA SLOKA LINES
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Ragamalika Slokam `` Kalyani Khalu yadkatha
trijagadm'' composed by Swathii Tiruna l features
the Raga mudra for each line, namely, Kalyani, Mohanam.
Saranga, and Sankarabharanam.
PALLAVI LINES
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The famous Catur raga malika Pallavi:
`` Sankarabharananai azhait-todi vadi
kalya ni arbarukku'' (popularized by Ariyakkudi)
``Un darisanam Kitaikkumo Nataraja Dayanidhe''
(GNB, Madurai Mani Iyer et al)
A classical, and difficult example of a Pallavi in Kalyani,
set to Simhanandana Talam (128 aksarakalam) is the one sung
by Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer, and the {\sl Sahitya} reads:
``Gaurinayaka Kanakasabhanayaka
Halahaladhara gangadharahara
Smarahara purahara Sivakamesvara
Cidambaresvara Nataraja Mamava.''
Later, Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer recast this Pallavi into a Thillana,
``Thim tara tirana} in Kalya ni, in the same Simhanandana Tala m.
Dr. S. Venkatasubramania Iyer, (a retired Professor of Sanskrit, Kerala
University), a famous musicologist and an exponent of
Svati Tirunal compositions, claims that the K rti `` Seve
Syananduresa'' is not a composition of Svati Tirunal,
but of Iriyamman Thampi, who also used the same Raga mudra ``Padmanabha''.
I conclude with a remarkable observation about two strikingly
beautiful Kalyani compositions that
are given in Subbarama Dikshitar's Sangita Sampradaya
Pradarsini. Both are examples of Svarasthana Padam,
where most of the text uses only the seven Svaras of Kalyani.
The first, Parikkanni in Tisra Eka m, is in Tamil, where the
Matu (words) was set by one Narayanaswami Ayya, a noted Tamil Scholar
of Ettayapuram, and the Dhatu (music)
was set by Subbarama Dikshitar. The other one,
Thaniprayamu, is attributed to Sarangapani.
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P. P. Narayanaswami (sw...@math.mun.ca)
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