Malahari

Malahari
Arohanam	S R₁ M₁ P D₁ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ 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.

Structure and Lakshana

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]

ārohaṇa: S R₁ M₁ P D₁ Ṡ^[a]
avarohaṇa: Ṡ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S^[b]

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

Geetams

Shri Gananaatha in Rupaka, written by Purandara Dasa
Kundha Gowra Gowrivara in Rupaka, written by Purandara Dasa
Padumanaabha Paramapurusha in Triputa, written by Purandara Dasa
Keraya Neeranu Kerege Challi in Triputa, written by Purandara Dasa

Kritis

Vigneshwaram Bhajare in Adi tala and Pancha Matanga Mukha in Rupaka Tala composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar
Shri Mahaganapathe in Rupaka Tala composed by Muthiah Bhagavatar
Dasasreshtam by T. N. Seshagopalan in Rupaka Tala in praise of Shri Purandara Dasa
Sharanambitade in Adi tala by Annamacharya
Vara Siddhi Vinayaka, a Varnam in Adi tala by Dr. Sripada Pinakapani
Shri Raghupungava in Rupaka Tala by Gopikrishnan AJ

Related rāgas

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

Scale similarities

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

^
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: S Ṟ M P Ḏ Ṡ
- Western: C D♭ F G A♭ C
^
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: Ṡ Ḏ P M G Ṟ S
- Western: C A♭ G F E D♭ C

References

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

[3] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: S Ṟ M P Ḏ Ṡ
Western: C D♭ F G A♭ C

[2] Hindustani: S Ṟ M P Ḏ Ṡ

[3] Western: C D♭ F G A♭ C

[4] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: Ṡ Ḏ P M G Ṟ S
Western: C A♭ G F E D♭ C

[5] Hindustani: Ṡ Ḏ P M G Ṟ S

[6] Western: C A♭ G F E D♭ C

[raganidhi-1] Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

[ragas-2] Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications

[1]

[2]

[a]

[b]

Janya ragas
A-B	Abheri Abhogi Ahiri Amritavarshini Amritha Kalyani Anandabhairavi Andolika Arabhi Asaveri Atana Bageshri Bahudari Bhairavi Bhimsen Bhupalam Bilahari Bowli
D-J	Darbar Darbari Kanada Devagandhari Dhanyasi Gambhiranata Garudadhvani Gaula Hamsadhvani Hamsanadam Hamsanandi Hindolam Jana Ranjani Jaunpuri
K-L	Kalavati Kalyanavasantam Kambhoji Kāpi Karnataka Shuddha Saveri Kathanakuthuhalam Kedaragaula Kedaram Khamas Lalitha Lavangi
M	Mahati Madhuvanti Madhyamavati Malahari Malayamarutam Mohanakalyani Mohanam Mukhari
N-R	Nada Kalyani Nagasvaravali Nata Nattakurinji Navarasa kannada Niroshta Pharaju Poornachandrika Punnagavarali Ranjani Reethigowla Revagupti Revati
S	Sahana Salaga Bhairavi Saramati Saveri Shivaranjani Sri Tyagaraja Shree ragam Shree ranjani Shuddha Saveri Sindhu Bhairavi Sunadavinodini Surutti
T-V	Thyagaraja Mangalam Tilang Udayaravichandrika (Shuddha Dhanyasi) Valaji Varali Vasantha Yadukulakamboji Yamunakalyani
Carnatic music Swaras Melakarta ragas Asampurna Melakarta ragas List of Janya ragas

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