Avarohana

Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avarohan in North Indian classical music and South Indian Classical Music (Carnatic Music), is the descending notes of a raga. Each raga has an avarohana and arohana. However not every raga follows notes down in a strictly decreasing pitch. The notes descend in pitch from the upper Stayi (Octave) Shadjam (Sa) all the way down to the lower Shadjam (Sa). The "Avarohana" encompasses not only which pitches are included in descending passages, but may also specify ornaments such as meend or gamak, convolutions in the scale (where it may not be simply one descending line), etc.

Examples

In "Malahari", which is janya raga of 15^th melakarta Mayamalavagowla, the avarohana is "S D1 P M1 G2 R1 S". See swaras in Carnatic music for description of this notation.

In "Sahana", a "janya" raga of 28^th melakarta Harikambhoji, the Avarohana is "S N2 D2 P M1 G3 M1 R2 G3 R2 S". This raga in its avarohana has the notes jumping from one to another (a bit like Dattu). This changes the whole feel of the raga, making Sahana a beautiful to listen to Raga.