Vachaspati (ragam)

Vachaspati (pronounced Vāchaspati, sanskrit वाचस्पति, tamil வாசஸ்பதி) is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is the 64^th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music.

It was borrowed into Hindustani music, like many other Carnatic rāgams. [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/12/stories/2002041201390700.htm The Hindu : Carnatic music — a complete system ] ] "Raganidhi" by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras]

It is known as "Bhushavati" according to the Muthuswami Dikshitar school "Ragas in Carnatic music" by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] .

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 4^th rāgam in the 11^th chakra "Rudra". The mnemonic name is "Rudra-Bhu". The mnemonic phrase is "sa ri gu mi pa dhi ni" .

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 R2 G3 M2 P D2 N2 S
*IAST|avarohaṇa: S N2 D2 P M2 G3 R2 S

(Chathusruthi Rishabham, Antara Gandharam, Prathi Madhyamam,Chathusruthi Dhaivatham, Kaisiki Nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam - a rāgam that has all seven swaras (notes).

Janya Rāgams

It has many janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, out of which "Bhooshavali" and "Saraswathi" are popular.

See List of Janya Rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with it.

Popular compositions

"Vachaspati" is close to "Kalyani" (which is 65^th melakarta) and differs only in the Nishādham. Still, this rāgam does not have many compositions. At the same time many composers have used this rāgam for composing 1 song each.

Popular compositions in this rāgam are
*"Kantajoodumi" by Thyagaraja
*"Paraatparaa" by Papanasam Sivan
*"Sahasrakara mandithe" by Muthiah Bhagavatar
*"Ennaadu ni kripa" by Patnam Subramania Iyer.

Related rāgams

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

Vachaspati's notes when shifted using Graha bedham, yields 3 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, "Charukesi", "Gourimanohari" and "Natakapriya". 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 Vachaspati.

References