Dhanasri () 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 ...

belonging to the tradition of Odissi music. Falling under the ''meḷa'' of the same name, the raga uses ''komala gandhara'' and ''komala nisada'' swaras and is traditionally associated with the ''karuṇa rasa.'' The raga is mentioned in treatises such as the ''

Gita Prakasa The Gitaprakasa ( IAST: 'Gītaprakāśa'; "Illuminator of music") is a 16th-century musical treatise belonging to the tradition of Odissi music, written by the musicologist Krusnadasa Badajena Mahapatra. Mahapatra was a court musician of Gajapati M ...

'' and ''

Sangita Narayana The Sangita Narayana ( IAST: 'Sangīta Nārāyana') is a 17th-century musical treatise belonging to the tradition of Odissi music, written by musician ''Kabiratna'' Purusottama Misra and attributed to Gajapati ''Sarbagya'' Jagannatha Narayana De ...

.''

Structure

An ancient raga, Dhanasri is accepted as one of the primary ''melas'' in Odissi music due to its prominence. It has been used by hundreds of poet-composers for well-over the past many centuries. Its ''aroha-abaroha'' are given below : ''Aroha :'' n S g M P n S ''Abaroha :'' S n D P M g R S

Compositions

Some of the well-known traditional compositions in this raga include : * ''Sariba Ki E Nisi Go'' by

Banamali Dasa Banamali Dasa (; 1720–1793) is an Indian medieval Odia ''bhakta''-poet & composer of Odissi music from the state of Odisha. "''Dinabandhu daitari''", "''Kede chanda jane lo sahi''" and "''Manima he etiki maguni mora''" are some of his ...

* ''Kanta Bina Diba Rajani'' by

Upendra Bhanja ''Kabi Samrata'' Upendra Bhanja () was a 17th-century Odia poet-composer of classical Odissi music.Mansingha, Mayadhar: ''History of Oriya Literature'': Publisher, Sahitya Akademi, Delhi He is most known for his Odissi songs and kabyas written i ...

* ''Kadamba Bane Bansi Bajila'' by

Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka (1784–1862) (Alternatively spelled Gopalakrishna, Pattnaik; ) was an Odia poet & composer of Odissi music. His Odissi songs in various traditional ragas and talas are widely sung across the state, as well as other allie ...

* ''Gostha Chandramanku Asa'' by

* ''Ke Ki Kahi Ki Bigidaila'' by

* ''Kunchita Nila Kuntala'' by Benudhara

References

{{Odissi music ragas Ragas of Odissi music