Dharmavati 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 (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 59th ''

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 in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called ''Dhaamavati'' in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras '' Madhuvanti'' is the nearest Hindustani music scale to ''Dharmavati''.

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 5th rāgam in the 10th ''chakra Disi''. The mnemonic name is ''Disi-Ma''. The mnemonic phrase is ''sa ri gi mi pa dhi nu''. Its 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 ''chathusruthi rishabham, sadharana gandharam, prati madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham, kakali nishadham'') As it is a ''melakarta'' rāgam, by definition it is a ''sampoorna'' rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the ''prati madhyamam'' equivalent of '' Gourimanohari'', which is the 23rd ''melakarta''.

''Janya'' rāgams

''Dharmavati'' has a few '' janya'' rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which '' Madhuvanti'', '' Ranjani'' and '' Vijayanagari'' are popular in concerts. See '' List of janya rāgams'' for all rāgams associated with ''Dharmavati''.

Compositions

Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to ''Dharmavati''. *''Parandaamavati Jayathi'' by Muthuswami Dikshitar (includes the name of rāgam ''Dhaamavati'' in the lyrics) *''Dharmave jayavemba'' by Purandara Dasa *''Mullai Oorntha'', ancient Tamil Kuruntokai poetry by Rajan Somasundaram from Sandham: Symphony Meets Classical Tamil *''Ododi vandhen kanna'' by Ambujam Krishna *''Bhajana Seyada Rada'' by Mysore Vasudevachar *''Vashama Nee'' by

M. Balamuralikrishna Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (6 July 1930 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer, composer, and character actor. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in ...

Notable film composers like T.G.Lingappa, Ilaiyaraja and later A. R. Rahman have composed film songs based on the scale of ''Dharmavati''. T.G.Lingappa composed song such as 'kanasalli bandavanyare' ( Shruti seridaga). Ilaiyaraja composed songs such as 'Meendum Meedum Vaa' ( Vikram), 'Andhela Ravamidhi', (Swarna Kamalam), 'Vaanaville' (Ramanaa (film), Ramana), 'Nataraaja paadaalu' (Aalaapana) in this raaga while Rahman composed "Ottagathai Kattiko", in the 1993 Tamil film ''Gentleman (1993 film), Gentleman'', based on the ''Dharmavati'' scale.

Film Songs

Language:Tamil language, Tamil

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam. ''Dharmavati's'' notes when shifted using ''Graha bhedam'', yields 2 other ''Melakarta'' rāgams, namely, ''Chakravakam (raga), Chakravakam'' and ''Sarasangi''. ''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 further details and an illustration refer ''Graha bhedam#Dharmavati, Graha bhedam on Dharmavati''.

Notes

References

{{Janya, state=collapsed Melakarta ragas