Sudha Raghunathan - 5 - Scale of Bhairavi

rAgam: sankarAbharaNam & bhairavi
concert: mArgazhi mahA utsavam 2007

Is Bhairavi in the major scale or one of the minor scales? In other words, is it a sampoorna ragam or a janya ragam?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Carnatic
• Maargazhi
• Mahotsavam
• Jaya
• JayaTV
• Urchavam
• shankarabharanam
• sampoorna

[swethahaasini]

This answer is incorrect. Bhairavi has all the 7 swaras and is a sampoorna ragam but is NOT a Melakarta ragam. This is because Bhairavi has 2 Dhaivatams - Shuddha and chatishruti which makes it a Bhashyanga Ragam and NOT a Melakartha Ragam.

[srinivasrgvn]

We must first understand that the Janaka-Janya concept is relatively newer. Ragas like Bhairavi existed centuries before Janaka-Janya concept was undertaken. So, the classification of Bhairavi as a janya of Natabhairavi is itself senseless. Natabhairavi came after Bhairavi!!

[AlanSessler]

As a westerner I've been trying to figure out this type of scale for a long time. If I understand correctly, as I'm playing my guitar along with her, it sounds like a 5-note scale consisting of G#, Bb, C, Eb, G#, with the scale wavering between the current and previous step. G#, Bb and G#, C and Bb, Eb and C, G# and Eb, then back down. Is this correct? Please don't throw all the complicated terminology at me.

[vchakkera]

Again. the question was also why it is Janya Ragam and Not Janaka Ragam ( Melakartha)

It is not melakartha and is Janya because it doesnt have the same arohanam as the avarohanam. Janaka Ragam or Melakartha should have same notes going up and coming down. Bhairavi has the shudha dhaivatam ..while coming down and chatushruti while going up.. so this is classified as a janya ragam.

I think she meant Janya when she said sampoorna in the last part...it might have been a slip of tongue.

[vchakkera]

She is Correct in One Sence by Sampoorna Raga Definition.

Sampoorna Ragas should have all 7 notes & shud not have vakra prayogams. But many sing bhairavi as Sa ga ri gama though it is sa ri gama in real theoretical sence. SO she is right and wrong both. If we look at bhairavi's textual arohanam scale, it is sa ri ga ma (not sa gari ga ma)so She is wrong. because this is SAMPOORNA ragam.but coz of vakra , she is right. and as we talk of theory, she is wrong as its not vakram always..:-)

[miakimalhar]

This is why not all who sing should be given the opportunity to answer technical questions