''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In
Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya
raga
A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...
'' is one derived from one of the 72 ''
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 ...
'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a variety of features.
''Varja'' ragas
Ragas that omit (varjyam, to omit in Sanskrit) one or more of the notes of the scale (''
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'') of their parent ''melakarta'' raga, in the ascending or descending scale or in both, fall into this category. Different notes may be omitted from the ascending ''
arohana
Arohana, Arohanam or Aroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the ascending scale of notes in a raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The pitch increases as we ...
'' and descending ''
avarohana
An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The notes descend in pitch ...
'' scale. Such scales are given the names listed below.
[''A practical course in Carnatic music'' by Prof. P. Sambamurthy, 15th edition published 1998, The Indian Music publishing house][''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications]
vrja a
* ''Sampurna'' – 7 note scale
* ''Shadava'' – 6 notes
* ''Audava'' – 5 notes
Since these terms are applicable both to the ascending and the descending scale, ragas can be classified as ''Audava-Sampurna'' – 5 notes in ' and 7 in the ' – ''Shadava-Sampurna'' – 6 notes in ' and 7 in the ', as in ''
Kambhoji
Kambhoji or Kambodhi is a popular Raga in Carnatic Music. It is classified as a derived raga from 28th Melakartha, Harikambhoji.
Scale
The scale of Kambhoji is
Ascending: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S
Descending: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S (N3 P D2 S) ...
'' raga and so forth.
''Sampurna-Sampurna'' ragas are not necessarily ''Melakarta'' because they may use notes not in the parent scale or ''vakra prayoga'', a "zig-zag" scale instead of sequential ascent and descent). Such ragas are termed ''vakra'' ragas.
Examples are ''Nalinakanti'', ''
Kathanakuthuhalam
Kathanakuthuhalam or kathanakuthoohalam, also known as kathanakuthuhala is a raga in Carnatic music. Patnam Subramania Iyer is credited with inventing this raga. The famous kriti ''Raghuvamsha Sudhambudhi'' written by him is in this raga.
St ...
'', ''
Darbaru'', ''
Jana Ranjani'' and ''
Kedaram
Kedaram (pronounced kēdāram) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a derived scale (''janya'' rāgam) from '' Shankarabharanam'', the 29th ''Melakarta'' rāgam.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. ...
''. See full
List of Janya Ragas for more examples.
* ''Nalinakanti'' – ' S G3 R2 M1 P N3 S, ' S N3 P M1 G3 R2 S
* ''Kathanakuthuhalam'' – ' S R2 M1 D2 N3 G3 P S, ' S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
(see
''swaras'' of Carnatic music for an explanation of above notation)
''Upanga/Bhashanga'' ragas
''Upanga'' ragas are strictly derived from their parent ''melakarta'' raga and do not use any note not found in the parent raga's scale.
Examples of ''upanga'' ragas are ''
Shuddha Saveri
Shuddha Saveri or śuddha sāveri is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music) and Yakshagana music. It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a '' janya'' rāgam (derive ...
'', ''
Udayaravichandrika
Udayaravichandrika 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 all the ...
'' and ''
Mohanakalyani
Mohanakalyani is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 65th ''melakarta'' scale Mechakalyani. It is a ''janya'' scale, as it does not have all the seven ''sw ...
''. ''Bhashanga'' ragas have ''anya swara(s)'' (external note; note not found in parent scale) in their ' or both.
Examples of ''Bhashanga'' ragas are ''
Kambhoji
Kambhoji or Kambodhi is a popular Raga in Carnatic Music. It is classified as a derived raga from 28th Melakartha, Harikambhoji.
Scale
The scale of Kambhoji is
Ascending: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S
Descending: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S (N3 P D2 S) ...
'', ''
Bhairavi
Bhairavi ( sa, भैरवी) is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava.
Etymology
The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terror" or "awe-inspiring". She is th ...
'', ''
Bilahari
Bilahari is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 29th ''melakarta'' scale ''Sankarabharanam''. It is a ''janya'' scale, as it does not have all the seven ' ...
'', ''Saranga'', ''Behag'' and ''
Kāpi
Kāpi is a popular rāga in Carnatic music, the classical music of South India. ''Kāpi'' is a janya rāgam of '' Kharaharapriya'' with a meandering vakra scale. Typically performed at slow and medium speeds, it is capable of inducing moods of ...
''.
Single octave
Some ''janya'' ragas are sung in only one octave.
Moreover, the highest note is not the ''shadjam'' (sa), at which the base ''sruthi'' (
drone
Drone most commonly refers to:
* Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg
* Unmanned aerial vehicle
* Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft
* Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone
Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to:
...
) of a performance is set. The classifications in this category are as follows.
* ''Nishadantya'' – highest note is the ''nishadam'' (ni)
example ''Nadanamakriya'' derived from ''
Mayamalavagowla
Mayamalavagowla (pronounced ) is a raga of Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is classified as 15th '' melakarta'' raga under Venkatamakhin's '' melakarta'' system. Originally known as ''malavagowla'', "maya" was ...
'' scale (' S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3, ' N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S N3)
* ''Dhaivathantya'' – highest note is the ''dhaivatham'' (dha)
example ''Kurinji'' derived from ''
Shankarabharanam'' scale (' S N3 S R2 G3 M1 P D2, ' D2 P M1 G3 R2 S N3 S )
* ''Panchamantya'' – highest note is the ''panchamam'' (pa)
example ''Navaroj'' (' P D2 N3 S R2 G3 M1 P, ' M1 G1 R3 S N2 D2 P)
''Karnataka/Desya'' ragas
''Karnataka'' ragas are those that are considered to have originated in Carnatic music.
Examples are ''
Shankarabharanam'', ''Lalitha'' and ''
Shuddha Saveri
Shuddha Saveri or śuddha sāveri is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music) and Yakshagana music. It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a '' janya'' rāgam (derive ...
''.
''Desya'' ragas are those ragas that have their origins in other music, majority of them originating in
Hindustani music
Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sita ...
. Examples are ''
Yamunakalyani
Yamunakalyani is the janya raga of Mechakalyani, the 65th Melakarta ragam.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications It brings out Bhakthi, Sringara, Gambheera and Shantha rasas.
Raga Lakshana
Yamuna ...
'', ''Desh'', ''Behag'' and ''
Sindhu Bhairavi''.
Other classifications
There are various other classifications of ''janya'' ragas. These are based on relationships with other ragas (they give a feel of a different but similar raga), presence of ''
gamakas'' (oscillations and graces around the note), stresses on notes or lack of them, the time of day when a raga is sung, ''
rasa'' or mood that they evoke, etc.
See also
*
List of Janya Ragas
*
Melakartha
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 ''melaka ...
Notes
External links
carnatic.net
{{Janya
Carnatic music terminology