Malahari

Malahari
ArohanamS R₁ M₁ P D₁ 
Avarohanam D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S

Malahari is a Carnatic raga. This raaga is a janya of the 15th Melakarta raga Mayamalavagowla. This raga is known to be a morning raga which brings out a sense of calmness.[1] It is associated with the rainy season.[2]

In classical carnatic training, it is often used as a raaga for beginners using geetha right after the swara-based exercises in Mayamalavagowla. Many of the Geethas in this raga have been composed by Purandara Dasa and Muthuswami Dikshitar.

Ascending scale with C as Shadjam (tonic note)

Structure and Lakshana

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Descending scale has one extra note G3

This raga is an asymmetric scale and is classified as an audava-shadava raga (five notes in the ascending scale and six notes in the descending scale).[1][2]

The notes in this scale are shuddha rishabha, shuddha madhyama, shuddha dhaivata in arohana and additional antara gandhara in avarohana. Since this scale does not have a nishadha, it can be derived from Gayakapriya (13th melakarta) or Vakulabharanam (14th) too, but has been traditionally associated with Mayamalavagowla (15th) as the parent.

Select compositions

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Geeta's

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Kritis

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This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāga.

Scale similarities

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  • Karnataka Shuddha Saveri is a rāga which has a symmetrical scale matching the ascending scale of Malahari (gandhara is entirely omitted). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R1 M1 P D1 S : S D1 P M1 R1 S

Notes

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  1. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S  M P  
    • Western: C D F G A C
  2. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:   P M G  S
    • Western: C A G F E D C

References

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  1. ^ a b Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  2. ^ a b Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications