Chakravakam (raga)

Summary

Chakravakam or Chakravaham (pronounced chakravākam) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale in South Indian classical music). It is the 16th Melakarta rāgam (parent rāgam) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. According to the Muthuswami Dikshitar school, this rāgam is called Tōyavēgavāhini.[1] Chakravakam is similar to Raga Ahir bhairav in Hindustani music.[2]

Chakravakam
ArohanamS R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ 
Avarohanam N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S

Chakravakam is a raga that is known to incite feelings of devotion, sympathy and compassion in the listeners.

Structure and Lakshana edit

 
Chakravakam scale with Shadjam at C

It is the 4th melakarta in the 3rd chakra- Agni. The mnemonic name is Agni-Bhu. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu ma pa dhi ni.[1] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

The notes in this scale are shadjam, shuddha rishabham, anthara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham.

It is a sampoorna rāgam - rāgam having all 7 swarams. It is the suddha madhyamam equivalent of Ramapriya, which is the 52nd melakarta.

Chakravakam is different from Mayamalavagowla in some ways, while playing. The Ri Ga ma notes are played a bit flatter than Mayamalavagowla, making it sound more restrained than Mayamalavagowla. The Da and Ni are played somewhat like Hari Kambhoji, giving the overall tune, to be restrained and devotional essence

Asampurna Melakarta edit

Tōyavēgavāhini is the 16th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same and the ascending scale and descending scale are same.[3]

Janya rāgams edit

Chakravakam has quite a few janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Bindumalini, Malayamarutam and Valaji are popular.

See List of Janya Ragas for a full list of its janyas.

Popular Compositions edit

Etula Brotuvo teliya and Sugunamule by Thyagaraja

Kānakkankoti vendum by Koteeswara Iyer

Gajānanayutham By Muthuswami Dikshitar

Mullu Koneya Mele By Purandara Dasa

Kada Beladingalu By Sripadaraja

Sarojanabha by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal

Sri Amruta Phalâmbike by Kalyani Varadarajan

Pibare Ramarasam (version by Balamuralikrishna) by Sadashiva Brahmendra

Film Songs edit

"Albela Sajan" from "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (Hindi), "Poochho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitai" from "Meri Surat Teri Ankhen" (Hindi) and "Raakkili Than" from "Perumazhakalam" (Malayalam).

Language:Tamil edit

Song Movie Year Composer Singer
Ullathil Nalla Ullam Karnan 1964 Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Maranathai Enni
Thaai Paadum Paatu Naam Pirandha Mann 1977 M. S. Viswanathan P. Susheela, Vani Jairam
Deivathin Theareduthu Paattum Bharathamum 1975 T. M. Soundararajan
Aalukoru Thedhivechi Theerpu 1982
Indha Vanji Magal Thampadhyam oru Sangeetham S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Vaarey Vaa Thee 1981 L. R. Eswari
Naalellam Unthan Thirunale Thirumalai Deivam 1973 Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan K. B. Sundarambal
Vanithamani Vikram 1986 Ilaiyaraaja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, Kamal Haasan
Vaanile Thenila Kaakki Sattai 1985 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Chalakku Chalakku Chembaruthi 1992 Mano, S. Janaki
Katthum Kadal Kattumarakaran 1995
Nee Pathi Naan Pathi Keladi Kanmani 1990 K. J. Yesudas, Uma Ramanan
Thottu Thottu Thukkipattu Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen 1992 Minmini
Koodu Enge Senthamizh Selvan 1994 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra
Ezhumalaiyanin Mahimai Ezhumalaiyan Mahimai 1997 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Alli Sundaravalli Kangalin Varthaigal 1998 Arunmozhi
Poonkatrae Friends 2001 Hariharan
Vidu Kathaiya Muthu 1995 A. R. Rahman
Eechambazham Pavithra 1994 Shahul Hameed, K.S. Chitra
Vaa Vaa En Veenaiyae Sattam 1983 Gangai Amaran S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Unathe Ilam Maalai Pozhuthe Oomai Janangal 1984 K. J. Yesudas
Valarpirai Enave Rendum Rendum Anju 1988 Mano
Aavani Masam Porakattum Ponnu Pudichirukku 1984 Chandrabose Malaysia Vasudevan
Paadu Paadu Sengottai 1996 Vidyasagar K.S. Chitra, Anuradha Sriram
Neelagiri Mala Orathila Namma Annachi 1994 Deva S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K.S. Chitra
Azhagu Azhagu Baashha 1995
Munnuru Naal Sumanthu Kasthuri Manjal 1993 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sathamillatha Thanimai Amarkalam 1999 Bharadwaj
Ulagam Oru Vaadagai Thaiyalkaran 1991 S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Agaram Ippo Sigaram K.J. Yesudas
Unnalathan Nanum Vazhven Eesa 2009 Haran Naresh Iyer

Janya:Rasikaranjani Ragam edit

Song Movie Composer Singer
Amuthe Tamizhe Koyil Puraa Illayaraja P. Susheela, Uma Ramanan
Neela Kuyile Magudi S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Konathu Sengarumbu(Folkish Style) Padikatha Pannaiyar Deepan Chakravarthy, S. P. Sailaja
Ethilum Ingu Bharathi Madhu Balakrishnan

Album edit

Song Album Composer Singer
KalamSei Kove Sandham- Symphony Meets Classical Tamil Rajan Somasundaram Saindhavi

Related rāgams edit

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

Chakravakam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Sarasangi and Dharmavati. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Dharmavati.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S  G M P D  
    • Western: C D E F G A B C
  2. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:   D P M G  S
    • Western: C B A G F E D C

References edit

  1. ^ a b Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. ^ Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  3. ^ Shree Muthuswami Dikshitar Keerthanaigal, by A Sundaram Iyer, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai

External links edit

  • Carnatic musician Charulatha Mani describes Chakravakam (Tamil)
  • Carnatic violinist Aishu Venkataraman performs Chakravakam