Kharaharapriya

Kharaharapriya (sanskrit खरहरप्रिया, tamil கரகரப்பிரியா) is a rāgam (musical scale), in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is the 22^nd Melakarta rāgam (parent rāgam) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system.

The "Kafi" thaat of Hindustani music is the equivalent of "Kharaharapriya""Ragas in Carnatic music" by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] "Raganidhi" by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras] .

tructure and Lakshana

It is 4^th rāgam in the 4^th chakra "Veda". The mnemonic name is "Veda-Bhu". The mnemonic phrase is "sa ri gi ma pa dhi ni" .

Its IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see "swaras in Carnatic music" for details on below notation and terms):
*IAST|ārohaṇa : S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S
*IAST|avarohaṇa : S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S(Chathusruthi Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam,Chathusruthi Dhaivatham, Kaisiki Nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam - rāgam having all 7 swarams.

Janya Rāgams

Due to the even spacing of swaras, many janya rāgams (derived rāgams) are associated with Kharaharapriya. It is one of the sampoorna rāgams that has high number of janya ragas associated with it.

Many of the janya Rāgams are very popular on their own, lending themselves to elaboration, interpretation and evoking different moods. Some of them are "Abheri", "Abhogi", "Bhimplaas" (Hindustani music), "Brindavana Saranga", "Kapi", "Madhyamavati", "Mukhari", "Reetigowla", "Sivaranjani" and "Sriranjani".

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

Compositions

Kharaharapriya has been decorated with compositions by many composers, except the Dikshitars, including Muthuswami Dikshitar . Thyagaraja has composed many in this rāgam. A few of the popular compositions are listed here.

"Chakkani raja", "Pakkala nilapadi", "Rama ni samana" and "Rama neeyata" by Thyagaraja
"Moovasai konda thiruman" by Muthiah Bhagavatar
"Senthil andavan" by Papanasam Sivan

Related rāgams

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

Kharaharapriya's notes when shifted using Graha bedham, yields 5 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, "Kalyani", "Hanumatodi", "Natabhairavi", "Sankarabharanam" and "Harikambhoji". Graha bedham is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration of Graha bedham of this rāgam refer Graha bedham on Sankarabharanam.

References