Kamavardhini

Kamavardhini (pronounced Kāmavardhini, Sanskrit कामवर्दिनि, Tamil காமவர்த்தனி) is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is the 51^st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music.

This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the beginning of a concert. It is also referred by the name "Pantuvarali" (sanskrit पन्तुवराळि, tamil பந்துவராளி) "Ragas in Carnatic music" by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] , although purists prefer to designate it as Kamavardhini.

It is called "Kashiramakriya" in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school "Raganidhi" by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras] . The Hindustani music equivalent of "Kamavardhini" is the "Poorvi thaat" .

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 3^rd melakarta in the 9^th chakra "Brahma". The mnemonic name is "Brahma-Go". The mnemonic phrase is "sa ra gu mi pa dha nu" .

Its IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
*IAST|ārohaṇa: S R1 G3 M2 P D1 N3 S
*IAST|avarohaṇa: S N3 D1 P M2 G3 R1 S(Suddha Rishabham, Anthara Gandharam, Prathi Madhyamam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Kakali Nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam - a rāgam that has all seven swaras (notes). This rāgam differs from the "Mayamalavagowla", which is the rāgam taught to a beginner in Carnatic music, only by the Madhyamam.

Janya Rāgams

It has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of Janya Rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with it.

Popular Compositions

"Shambo Mahadeva Shankara Girija Ramana", "Saramegani", "Aparama bhakthi", "Sundara daradeham" and "Siva Siva Siva ena radha" by the maestro Thyagaraja are popular compositions sung in concerts. "Enna ganu rama" by Bhadrachala Ramadas is another well-known composition in this raga.

Related rāgams

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

Kamavardhini's notes when shifted using Graha bedham, yields "Kanakangi" (the 1^st melakarta). Graha bedham is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. See further details and an illustration of Graha bedham on Kanakangi.

References