Ahiri (pronounced āhiri) is a

rāga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as ...

m in

Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...

. It is a ''

janya ''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya raga'' is one derived from one of the 72 ''melakarta'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a varie ...

'' rāgam (derived scale), and associated with the 14th ''

melakarta Mēḷakartā is a collection of fundamental musical scales ( ragas) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). ''Mēḷakartā'' ragas are parent ragas (hence known as ''janaka'' ragas) from which other ragas may be generated. A ''melak ...

'' scale ''

Vakulabharanam Vakulabharanam (pronounced ) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 14th ''melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Dhātivasantabhairavi''Ragas in C ...

''.''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications It has also been associated with the 8th ''melakarta'' scale

Hanumatodi Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi (pronounced hanumatōdi and tōdi), is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music. It is the 8th ''melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system. This is sung very often in concer ...

. Though it has all the seven ''

swara Svara or swara (Devanagari: स्वर, generally pronounced as ''swar'') is a Sanskrit word that connotes simultaneously a breath, a vowel, the sound of a musical note corresponding to its name, and the successive steps of the octave or '' ...

s'' (musical notes) in the ascending and descending scale, the presence of zig-zag notes (''vakra''

s) makes it a ''janya'' rāgam. ''Ahiri'' is an ancient rāgam mentioned in ''

Sangita Makarandha Sangita Makaranda is an ancient work on classical music written by Narada. This work is a rare collection of definitions, descriptions and comments on all the essential music by other ancient reputed authors from Bharata Muni to Sharangdeva. It ...

'' and ''Sangita samayasara''. It is a difficult rāgam to master, but it is rewarding. The rāgam is synonymous with ''karuna'' rasa (compassion). It is considered an early-morning scale.

Structure and Lakshana

''Ahiri'' is an asymmetric rāgam which has ''vakra swaras'' (zig-zag notes) in the ascending scale. It is a ''sampurna'' rāgam (containing all 7 notes). Several ''ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa'' structures (ascending and descending scale) are assigned due to the usage of foreign notes (''bhashanga prayogas''): * ārohaṇa : (also ) * avarohaṇa : The notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shuddha dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadham '' in the scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see ''swaras'' in Carnatic music. Since there is additional usage of external (foreign) notes, in comparison to its parent scale, it is considered a ''bhashanga'' rāgam. Notes Ri, Ga, Dha and Ni which are different from the parent scale are used in this scale and is considered to have lot of subtle srutis.

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to ''Ahiri'' rāgam. Here are some popular ''

kritis ''Kriti'' (Sanskrit: कृति, ''kṛti'') is a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music. ''Kritis'' form the mental backbone of any typical Carnatic music concert and is the longer format of Carnatic song. "Kriti" also means C ...

'' composed in this rāgam. *''Challare Ramachandrunipai (Sompaina Manasutho)'' composed by

Tyagaraja Thyagaraja (Telugu: త్యాగరాజ) (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Thyāgayya and in full as Kakarla Thyagabrahmam, was a composer and vocalist of Carnatic music, a form of Indian classical music. Tyagaraja and his ...

*''Adaya Sri Raghuvara'' by

*''Mayamma Anine'' by

Syama Sastri Shyama Shastri (; 26 April 1762 – 1827) or Syama Sastri was a musician and composer of Carnatic music. He was the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar being the other two. Early life and career Sh ...

*''Sri Kamalamba Jayati'' by

Muthuswamy Dikshitar Muthuswami Dikshitar (Mudduswamy Dikshitar)(, 24 March 1776 – 21 October 1835), mononymously Dikshitar, was a South Indian poet, singer and veena player, and a legendary composer of Indian classical music, who is considered one of the musical ...

*''Kusumakara Vimana Rudham'' by

*''Panimathi Mukhi Bale'', a Malayalam Padam by

Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma ( ml, സ്വാതി തിരുനാള്‍ രാമവർമ്മ) (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He is also considered as a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 40 ...

*''Pannagendra Shaya'' by

Film Songs

Language:
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

A popular Hindi film song in Ahiri Ragam is - ''Ay Chand Teri Chandni Ki Kasam'' from the movie

Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa, () is a 2000 Indian romantic movie starring Abhishek Bachchan and Keerthi Reddy (in her Bollywood debut). Plot On a visit to scenic Agra, Pooja (Keerthi Reddy) meets with a renowned artist, Kabir (Abhishek Bachchan). Kabi ...

, composed by

Ismail Darbar Ismail Darbar is an Indian film score composer, instrumentalist, violinist and music director. Career Ismail Darbar is from Surat, Gujarat. He worked for several years as a session violinist for leading music directors Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kal ...

and sung by

Sonu Nigam Sonu Nigam (born 30 July 1973) is an Indian singer, music director and actor. He has been described in the media as one of the most popular and successful playback singers of Hindi Cinema and Kannada Cinema. He has been honoured by the Govern ...

Alka Yagnik Alka, AlkA or ALKA may refer to: People * Alka Ajith (born c. 1997), Indian multilingual playback singer * Alka Amin (active from 2011), Indian television actress * Alka Balram Kshatriya, Indian politician, Member of the Parliament of India repr ...

Popular Malayalam film songs in Ahiri Ragam are ''Pazhanthamil'' from the movie

Manichitrathazhu ''Manichitrathazhu'' () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language epic psychological horror film directed by Fazil, written by Madhu Muttam, and produced by Swargachitra Appachan. The film stars Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Shobana with Nedumudi Venu, ...

, and ''chempakappoonkattile'' from rathinirvedam

Notes

References