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raga of the week

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Pramila N Srinivasan

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Apr 21, 1995, 3:00:00 AM4/21/95
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Hello

I am posting this on behalf of Dr Narayanaswami who is having trouble
with the internet.

Regards
Pramila Srinivasan


Hi:
This is my humble contribution to Sankarabharanam
(Raga of the Week). Thanks
Narayanaswami
***********************************************************

Ragam SANKARABHARANAM (Long)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This majestic Ragam is considered the KING of all ragams in
Carnatic Music. This Ragam is also found in various
systems of World Music. The Hindustahni equivalent is
the Bilaval Thata (Velavali). In Western music, this is
equivalent to the Harmonic Diatonic scale --
C Major. The western notes Doh, Re, Mi, Fa, Soh, La, Sa
is set to this Ragam. Lydic (Greek), Ionian (Eccleasitic),
and the Meia (Arabic) systems are approximate to
Sankarabharanam. In Tamil music, this scale is prevelant
as Pazham Panchuram. This Ragam is mentioned in
Sangita Ranthnakaram, Sangita Makarandam and
Sangita Samayasara. Sarngadeva (13th century), in
Sangita Rathnakaram, refers to this Ragam as Ranjani
and states that this ragam was in vogue much earlier than
his period.

Muthuswami Dikshitar composed about 40 Nottu Swara
Sahityams, all in Sankarabharanam, all the tunes in
Western Melody.

Sankarabharanam literally means - the ornament of Lord Siva -
Hence it is always associated with Siva, and even the seven swaras
featured are described as the seven ornaments of Lord SIva,
namely, Sarpa (sa), Rudraksha (Ri), Ganga (Ga), Mrga (Ma)
Pushpa (Pa, Damaru (Dha) NisAkara (moon) (Ni).

MeLam 29 (both in SampoorNam, and AsampoorNa MeLam scheme)
RAgAnga RAgam, The name is DHIRASANKARABHARANAM, the
``DHIRA'' is incorporated to obtain the Melam No. 29
according to KatapayAdi Gana counting.

Definition (Venkatamakhin):
SankarAbharaNam pUrNam, SAyam GEyam Cha Sagraham

Raganga Ragam, Sampurnam
Bana Chakram, MA (5th) Ri Gu Ma Pa Dhi Nu
Arohanam SA RI GA MA PA DHA NI
Avarohanam: SA NI DHA PA MA GA RI
(Shadja, Chatusruti Rishabha, Antara Gandhara,
Suddha Madhyma, Panchama, Chatusruti Dhaivata, Kakali Nishada)
It is the Suddha Madhyama counterpart of MeLam 65 - (Mecha)Kalyani

A ragam with a symmetrical pair of tetrachords, each being
separated by the interval of a major tone. That is the
purvanga (sa ri ga ma) and uttaranga (pa dha ni sa) are uniform and
match perfectly. This is a reason for its popularity, since
this characteristic makes it possible to give fluent and
enjoyable expression to the Ragam both in vocal and in
instrumental music.
Suitable for singing in the evening. A Sarva Svara Ranjaka Ragam.
A ragam that is capable of evoking different rasas like Srngara,
Vira, etc.
Janta swara and Dhatu swara Prayogas add to the bbeauty of the ragam.
Important Jiva svaras: GA, Ma, Pa, Ni.
Ri, Ga, Ma, Ni are rendered as Kampita svaras
Ga, Ma, Ni, sa are Nyasa svaras
Ma and Pa are amsa svaras
Ri, Dha are used as dirgha svaras
Compositions begin in Sa, Ga, Ma, or Pa.
A Ragam with tremendous scope for elaboration, so is
usually featured in the Ragam Tanam Pallavi segment of a concert.

A sarva svara Murchchana Karaka meLam, which, by the
process of Model shift of tonic (Graha Bhedam) produces
Kharaharapriya (Ri Murchchana), Todi (Ga Murchchana),
Kalyani (Ma murchchana), Harikambhoji (Pa murchchana), and
Natabhairavi (Dha murchchana).

Anecdotes related to Sankarabharanam
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tanjavur Narasayya, a court usician in Tanjavur court (18th
century) was so proficient in rendering this Ragam, that he
became known as Dankarabharanam Narasayya.

The majestic composition Akshaya Lingha Vibho by Muthuswami
Dikshitar as the following story begind it. At Kivakur
(Keezh Velur), when Dikshitar sand this piece, the
door of the Garbha Graham suddenly opened wide for him to
have the holy darshanam.

Muthuswami Diskhitar has to credit around 40 songs in
Westerm melody, known as Nottu Swara sahityam, all in
Sankarabharanam, in various Talams. Violin was introduced
to Carnatic music system by his younger brother Baluswami,
who was given this instrument by one of the East India company
officials, and this resulted in the series of compositions.

In the western film ~Sound of Music', the song `Doe a deer' sung by
Julie Andrews resembles reasonably with Sankarabharanam
(except with a slight touch of Pratimadhyamam in the end).

The Telugu film Sankarabharanam has been very popular, and created
an awareness of Classical music in a common man. The song
~Omkara nadanu sandhana' sung by SPB is very popular.

COMPOSITIONS IN SANKARABHARANAM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lakshya Gitam
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ripu BalagaNTAnurE, Matya TALam (Venkatamakhin)

Gitam
^^^^^
ArE Dasaratha, SImhanandana Talam (?)
Arr rE rE Kosala DEsapAla, Triputa (Govindacharya)

Sanchari
^^^^^^^^
--, Matya TaLam (Subarama Dikshitar)

Swarajati
^^^^^^^^^
Sa sa ri sa ni dha pa, Rupakam (Govindacharya)

Varnam (7)
^^^^^^
Raa rapu seyagarA, Ata (Ramaswamy Dikshitar)
Chalamela, Ata (Swati Tirunal)
Nilu Parani Mohamuto, Ata (Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer)
Sami ninnE KOri, Adi (Vina Kuppayyar)
SAmiki sari evvaro, Adi (Vina Kuppayyar)
Athi moham, Adi (Ponnayya Pillai)
Manavikai konarada, Adi (Ponnayya Pillai)

Pada Varnam (5)
^^^^^^^^^^^
IndumukhI, Ata (Swati Tirunal)
Manasime Paritapam, Adi (Iriyamman Thampi)
Sakhiye Inda, Rupakam (K. N. Dandayuthasami Pillai)
Sami ki Sari Evaro (Kunnakudi Krishna Iyer)
Manavi Chekkone radha (Ponnaiah Pillai)

Krithi (> 120)
^^^^^
Akshayalinghavibho, Misra Chapu (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Brihadeeswaraya, Adi (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Dakshinamurthe, Jhampa (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Girijaya Jaya, Adi (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Nagalingham, Adi (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Pavanathmajam, Adi (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Sadasivamupasmahe, Adi (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Sri Kamalambikaya, Rupakam (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Subrahmanyam, (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Sundareswaraya, Rupakam (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Tharakeswara, Adi (Muthuswami Dikshitar)
Shambho Jagadisa, Adi (Ramaswamy Dikshitar)
Sankaracharyam, Adi (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Parashakti, Rupakam (Subbarama Dikshitar)
Sri Salvatiswara Nayike, Rupakam (Ambi Dikshitar)
VA VA VA nI Valli manavala, Adi (Vekateswara Ettappa Maharaja)
Ashtanga Yoga, Adi (Kumara Ettappa Maharaja)
SaradE SadAsrayE, Tisra Ekam (Krishnasami Ayya)
Sankarabharana Sankhachakra, Tisra Ekam (Krishnasami Ayya)
SarojadaLa Netri, Adi (SyamA Sastri)
Devi Meena Netri, Adi (SyamA Sastri)
Nannu karuincham, Ekam (SyamA Sastri)
Bhakti Bikshamaiyave, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
Budhiradu, Misra Chapu (Tyagaraja)
EdulA NilachE, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Enduku Chalamu, Triputa (Tyagaraja)
Enduku Peddala, Desadi (Tyagaraja)
Emi Neramu, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Ee vidhamulanai, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Gata Moha Sritapala, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
Ee varukku Juchinadi, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Manasu Swadhina, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
Mariyada Garuda, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Nannu Brova kannu, Triputa (Tyagaraja)
Napali Srirama, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Pahi Ramachandra, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Paripalaya dasarathe, Misra Chapu (Tyagaraja)
Rama Nanuvina, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
RamA ramana ra ra, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Rama Sitarama, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
Sambho Sivasankara, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
Sankara Guruvaralu, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Sarasa Netra, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Sitapati Kavavayya, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Sri Raghuvara Dasarathe, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
Sundareswaruni, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Swara Raga Sudha, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Vallaga dhanaka, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Vishnuvahana, Rupakam (Tyagaraja)
Varaleda Ganalola, Adi (Tyagaraja)
Guru Charanam Bhaje, Adi (Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavathar)
Kuchela Paripala, Adi (Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavathar)
Aho Chitha Chintaya, Misra Chapu (Swathi Tirunal)
Bhakta Parayana, Chapu (Swathi Tirunal)
KalayE parvathinatham, Misra Chapu (Swathi Tirunal)
Rajeevaaksha, Adi (Swathi Tirunal)
Mahyam Kim Anitham, Adi (Swathi Tirunal)
Nrtyati Nrtyati, Adi (Swathi Tirunal)
Sakhi He Ni Gamikka, Triputa (Swathi Tirunal)
Saradindu Vadana, Adi (Swathi Tirunal)
Sarasanabha Me, Triputa (Swathi Tirunal)
Vande Govindarajam (Margadarsi Sesha Iyengar)
Palaya Sri, Adi (Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer)
Neram Chukora, Adi (Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer)
Enta Nustsu, Adi (Subbaraya Sastri)
Mahima Teliya tarama, Rupakam (Anayya)
Nalla Nalla Nilavi, Adi (Ghanam Krishna Iyer)
Kai Vidalaagaathayya, Adi (Viswanatha Sastri)
Koluvaiyunnade, Adi (Shahaji Maharaja)
Singarambu Pallika, Adi (Shahaji Maharaja)
Ennak Kaninthavan, Adi (Lalithadasar)
PanamA Unnal, Rupakam (Vedanayakam Pillai)
Uyyum Varai, Tupakam (Vedanayakam Pillai)
Thaye Unai Nambinaar, Rupakam (T. Lakshmanan Pillai)
Thunbam Illa, Adi (T. Lakshmanan Pillai)
Neekela Dayarada, Eka (Pallavi Sesha Iyer)
Elagu Dayavachino, Adi (Pallavi Doraiswamy Iyer)
Elagu daya Vachure (Pallavi Gopala Iyer)
Kadi modi Vadathu, Eka (Arunagirinathar)
YEn vandAy, Misra Chapu (Arunachala Kavi)
En kanavai kEL, Misra Chapu (Arunachala Kavi)
Nannu Karuninchi, Rupakam (Karur Chinna devudu)
iTirukkumaranai, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
Sundara rupa Gopalanai, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
Pathipadam PaNivathu, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
Mahalakshmi Jagan Mata, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
Konjam Dayai, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
Kanjamalaradu, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
AmbA Unaiyee, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
Akhilanda nayaki, Adi (Papanasam Sivan)
Nandan Charitthiram, Adi (Gopalakrishna Bharathi)
Periya Kizhavan, Adi (Gopalakrishna Bharathi)
Thookkiya Tiruvadi, Adi (Suddhananda Bharathiar)
Muthukkumarayyane, Rupakam (Ramaswamy Sivan)
Gopalakrishna Dayanidhe, Misra Chapu (Nilakanthan Sivan)
Un Mel Bharam, Adi (Nilakanthan Sivan)
Va Va Kalai Madhe, Adi (Nilakanthan Sivan)
Nii ThuNai PurivaayE, Misra Chapu (Kavikunjara Bharathi)
Sendhil Adhipan, Triputa (Kavikunjara Bharathi)
Valli Kalyanam, Misra Chapu (Kavikunjara Bharathi)
KaNapettreenee, Triputa (Kavikunjara Bharathi)
Ennay Alayya, Adi (Kotiswara Iyer)
Varavenum Vani, Adi (Kotiswara Iyer)
Manadhira, Adi (Muthiah Bhagavathar)
Sahaja Guna Rama, Adi (Muthiah Bhagavathar)
Gangadhara Naga kanaka, Adi (Muthiah Bhagavathar)
Chandrasekhara, Adi (Muthiah Bhagavathar)
Bhaja Manasa Sarasvati, Adi (Mysore Vasudevachariar)
Damodaram Anisam, Adi (Mysore Vasudevachariar)
Rama Ninivina, Adi (Mysore Sadasiva Rao)
Sudar Vadivela, Adi (Periyasami Thooran)
Taayinai Kaanaatha, Adi (Periyasami Thooran)
TaruNamidu, Jhampa (Periyasami Thooran)
Yemanallo Kane, Adi (Purandharadasa)
Vidathi Devathegalu, Adi (Purandaradasa)
iSumane Vaishnave, Adi (Purandaradasa)
SarvAparAdhavE, Triputa (Purandaradasa)
Madi Madi Maidayendu, Misra Chapu (Purandaradasa)
Nagalinga Maheswaram, Rupakam (Jayachamaraja Wodaiyar)

Recent Melakartha composers
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sri Subrahmanyam, Adi (M. Balamuralikrishna)
Kanda guru, Adi (D. Pattammal)
Shambho Sankara, Rupakam (Ashok Madhav)
Sri Chakra Peetha, Misra Chapu (Cuddalore SUbrahmanyam)

Padam (6)
^^^^^
Amdagadavi, Adi (KshetraJna)
Chellambo Palagiri, Adi (KshetraJna)
Evate Opana, Misra Chapu (KshetraJna)
Ela Tellavare, Triputa (KshetraJna)
Moova Gol\pala, Triputa (KshetraJna)
Inta Mohamemura, Misra Chapu (KshetraJna)

Thillana (3)
^^^^^^^^
Nadru Dhim Dhim, (Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar)
tatta Dhim Dhim tarana Adi (Ponnayya Pillai)
--- Adi, (Vina Seshanna)

Nottu Swara Sahitayams (Muthuswami Dikshitar) (40)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Anjaneyam Tisra Ekam
Chinthaya
Chinthayeham Chathurasra Ekam
Dasarathe Tisra Ekam
Deenabandho Tisra Ekam
Guruguha Sarasija Chathurasra Ekam
Guruguhapada Adi
Gurumurthe Rupakam
He Maye Tisra Ekam
Jagadeesa Chathurasra Ekam
Kamalasana Chathurasra Ekam
Kancheesa Tisra Ekam
Maye Chithkale Tisra Ekam
Muchukundavara Tisra Ekam
Pahi Durge Chathurasra Ekam
Pahimam Tisra Ekam
Pankajamukha Tisra Ekam
Paradevatha Tisram
Paradevathe Rupakam
Parvatheepathe Chathurasra Ekam
Peethavarnam Tisra Ekam
Rajeevalochanam Tisra Ekam
Ramachandram Chathurasra Ekam
Rama Janardhana Tisra Ekam
Sadasiva Chathurasra Ekam
Sakalasuravinutha Chathurasra Ekam
Sakthisahitha Tisra Ekam
Samaganapriye Chathurasra Ekam
Sankaravara Rupakam
Santhanasowbhaga Tisra Ekam
Santhatham Tisra Ekam
Santhatham Tisra Ekam
Shakthisahitha Tisram
Somaskandam Tisra Ekam
Sowrividhi
Sri Sankara Tisram
Syamale Meenakshi Chathurasra Ekam
Vagdevi Chathurasra Ekam
Vande Minakshi Chathurasra Ekam
Varadaraja Pahi Tisra Ekam
Varasivapalam Chathurasra Ekam

Ragamalika Lines
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Chaturdasa Ragamalika of Muthuswami Dikshitar
``Sri Viswanatham'' features Sankarabharanam in the Charana line
``Sadasrayami Sankarabharanam''

Swathi Tirunal,s Ragamalika ``Pannagendra sayana'' is eight ragams
begins with Sankartabharanam, and uses the Ragam as the basic melody.

Madurai Somu used to singa Tamil ragamalika in several ragams
starting with the line ``SankarabharanE Devi''

Maharajapuram Santhanam sings the 14 Raga malika `Nalinakathimathim'
and the line
Sankarabharanane Shakti Sakala Samrajya Chamundeswari Sankari'

Pallavi Lines
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The Chatur Raga Pallavi
Sankarabharananai Azhaithoodi vadi Kalyani Darbarukku
begins with this Ragam and has been made famous by
Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar, KVN and others.

Nataraja Dhayanidhe (sung by MLV)

Janya Ragams
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sankarabharanam claims to have a large number of Janya ragams:
The folowing are very popular Janyams.

Arabhi, Athana, Bangala, Begada, Behag, Bilahari, Durbar,
Durvanki, Devagandhari, Garudadhwani, Gaudamalhar, Hamsadhwani,
Hamsavinodhini, Janaranjani, Kadanakuthoohalam, Kaanada,
Kannada, Kedaram, Kuranji, Maahuri, Navaroj, Nagadhwani,
Narayani, Narayanadesakshi, Nilambari, Phalamanjari,
Purnachandrika, Purvagowla, Sahana, Sama, Saraswatimanohari,
Sindumandari, Suddha Vasantham, Suddha Saveri, Vasantha
********************************************************
Sources:
Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini, Subbarama Dikshitar
Ragas in Carnatic Music, Dr S. Bhagyalekshmy
********************************************************
Narayanaswami


V. Chandramouli

unread,
Apr 21, 1995, 3:00:00 AM4/21/95
to

|> Hi:
|> This is my humble contribution to Sankarabharanam
|> (Raga of the Week). Thanks
|> Narayanaswami
|> ***********************************************************
|>
|> Ragam SANKARABHARANAM (Long)
|> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> This majestic Ragam is considered the KING of all ragams in
|> Carnatic Music. This Ragam is also found in various
|> systems of World Music. The Hindustahni equivalent is
|> the Bilaval Thata (Velavali). In Western music, this is
|> equivalent to the Harmonic Diatonic scale --
|> C Major. The western notes Doh, Re, Mi, Fa, Soh, La, Sa
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

|> is set to this Ragam.

[Rest deleted...]

Please correct me if I am wrong. Doesn't Shankarabharanam correspond to any
major scale (C major, D major etc.) It is C major if the Sa is taken to be C.
Ignoring Srutis, doesn't the notes for shankarabharanam correspond to the
rule for the major scale ?


--Chandramouli

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