Bhupalam (pronounced ''bhūpalam'') 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 ...

(musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a pentatonic scale (''audava'' rāgam or ''owdava'' rāgam). It is a '' janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven '' swaras'' (musical notes). It is also written as Bhoopalam. It is considered an auspicious scale and a morning rāgam.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications In Tamil music, this scale is called ''Puranirmai pann'' and some ''

thevaram Thevaram is a town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thevaram is located in Tamil Nadu near on border of Kerala at the Eastern side foot-hill of the Western Ghats. It is connected with State Highway SH100. Farming is main o ...

s'' are set to this scale. This rāgam is played in the night. It is also used for chanting

slokas Shloka or śloka ( sa, श्लोक , from the root , Macdonell, Arthur A., ''A Sanskrit Grammar for Students'', Appendix II, p. 232 (Oxford University Press, 3rd edition, 1927). in a broader sense, according to Monier-Williams's dictionary, is ...

, folks songs,

Kathakali Kathakali ( ml, കഥകളി) is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes of the traditional male actor-dancers. It is native to the M ...

music and other rituals. The equivalent scale in Hindustani music is

Bhupal Todi Bhupal Todi or Bhoopal Todi is a Hindustani classical raga. This raga is quite different from Bhopali (or Bhoop). The Carnatic music equivalent of Bhupal Todi musical scale is Bhupalam.''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy ...

.''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

Structure and Lakshana

''Bhupalam'' is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain ''madhyamam'' or ''nishādham''. It is a symmetric pentatonic scale (''audava-audava'' ragam in Carnatic music classification – ''audava'' meaning 'of 5'). Its ascending and descending scale (' structure) is as follows: * : * : The notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, shuddha rishabham, sadharna gandharam, panchamam'' and ''shuddha dhaivatham'', as per

notation and terms for the ''swaras''. ''Bhupalam'' is considered a ''janya'' rāgam of ''

Shubhapantuvarali Shubhapantuvarali (pronounced , meaning ''the auspicious moon'') is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 45th '' melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is ...

'', the 45th ''

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 ...

'' rāgam, though it can be derived from 5 other melakarta rāgams by dropping both the ''madhyamam'' and ''nishādham''.

Popular compositions

''Bhupalam'' rāgam lends itself for good elaboration and has a few compositions in both classical music and film music. Here are some popular songs composed in ''Bhupalam''. *''Sadhu vibhatam'' ('' varnam'') and other ''

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 ...

'', ''Nijadasanam prati'' and ''Samajendra'' composed by Swati Tirunal *''Annai Janaki'' by

Arunachala Kavi Arunachala Kavi ( ta, அருணாசல கவி) (1711–1779) was a Tamil poet and a composer of Carnatic music. He was born in Tillaiyadi in Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu. The three Tamil composers Arunachala Kavi, Muthu Thandavar a ...

*''Sadachaleshwaram'' by

Muthuswami 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 ...

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, nati ...

Related rāgams

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

''Graha bhedham''

''Bhupalam's'' notes when shifted using '' Graha bhedham'', yields two pentatonic rāgams, ''

Gambhiranata Gambhiranata is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music) and Yakshagana where it is called Naati. It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāga (derived scal ...

'' and '' Hamsanadam''. ''Graha bhedham'' is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the ''shadjam'' to the next note in the rāgam. We get ''Hamsanadam'' by shifting the ''Shadjam'' to ''Shuddha Rishabham''. For more details and illustrations of this concept refer '' Graha bhedham on Gambhiranata''.

Scale similarities

*''

Revagupti Revagupti (pronounced ''rēvagupti'') is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a pentatonic scale (''audava'' rāgam or ''owdava'' rāgam). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not hav ...

'' rāgam differs from ''Bhupalam'' only by the ''gāndhāram''. It uses ''antara gāndhāram'' instead of ''sadharana gāndhāram'' and its ' structure is S R1 G3 P D1 S : S D1 P G3 R1 S *'' Bhauli'' rāgam uses an additional ''nishadam'' in descending scale, in comparison to Revagupti above. Its ' structure is S R1 G3 P D1 S : S N3 D1 P G3 R1 S *''

Karnataka Shuddha Saveri Karnataka Shuddha Saveri is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have a ...

'' rāgam uses ''shuddha madhyamam'' in place of ''sadharana gandharam'' of ''Bhupalam''. Its ' structure is S R1 M1 P D1 S : S D1 P M1 R1 S

Notes

References

{{Janya, state=collapsed Janya ragas