Sahana (pronounced sahānā) is a popular

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 ...

m (musical scale) 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 rāgam (derived scale) associated with the 28th

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

Harikambhoji Harikambhoji (pronounced harikāmbhōji) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 28th ''Melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system. One of the first scales employed b ...

. The Hindustani music ragam ''Sahana'' is an upper-tetrachord-dominant Kanada-anga

, from the Kafi thaat, also allied with Bageshree and Bhimpalasi. The shuddha Dhaivat is an important rest note (nyaas swara).

Structure and Lakshana

It is a ''Ubhaya Vakra

sampoorna raga In Indian classical music, Sampūrṇa rāgas (संपूर्ण, Sanskrit for 'complete', also spelt as ''sampoorna'') have all seven ''swaras'' in their scale. In general, the swaras in the ''Arohana'' and ''Avarohana'' strictly follow the a ...

m''. ''Vakra'' means crooked. ''Ubhaya Vakra'' means that the notes in both ascent and descent follow a zig zag pattern. The notes in ascending and descending scale do not follow a strict progression. Hence the note phrases contain such ''vakra'' phrases, lending a unique beauty to this rāgam. Though it is a ''sampoorna rāgam'' (contains all 7 notes), the ''vakra'' scale means it is not considered a ''melakarta'', as melakarta rāgams must have strictly ascending and descending scales. It is also classified as a ''rakti raga'' (raga with high melodic content). Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see '' swaras in Carnatic music'' for details on below notation and terms): * : * : The notes used in this scale are ''Shadjam, Chathusruthi Rishabham, Antara Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Chathusruthi Dhaivatham'' and ''Kaisiki Nishadham''. Its characteristic phrases are (R2 G3 M1 P),(P M1 D2 N2), (N2 S D2), (G3 M1 R2). Sahana has a distinct mood due to these phrases and characteristic

gamak Gamaka (also spelled gamakam) refer to ornamentation that is used in the performance of North and South Indian classical music. Gamaka can be understood as embellishment done on a note or between two notes. Present-day Carnatic music uses at le ...

ams and is rarely confused with other ragams. Sahana has a close relationship to Malavi and to some extent Dwijawanthi/Jujavanti. While the use of Anthara Gaandharam in R2 G2 R2 makes it different from Dwijawanthi, since Dwijawanthi uses Saadharana Gaandharam, sahana has a closer relationship with Malavi which has an identical Vakra scale formation as Sahana.

The original Sahana of Carnatic music

The original Sahana is the janya ragam of Sri melakarta .It is "bhashanga", "sampurna", "desiya",panchama "vakra" in arohanam and suitable for singing at all times.The raga is a desiya raga meaning it made its way to theory, from practice. It was evolved in the public domain, enjoyed the airtime with listeners and musicians and then it became important enough to be inducted into the portals of our music as a formal raga, distinct in its svarupa, appeal and capable of being moulded into compositions. The jeeva swaras : - rishabham, - gandharam and - nishadam provide extraordinary ranjana. Synonyms : Chahana, Shahana, sahana. Arohanam : Avarohanam : The swaras are -Shadjam, - Chaturshruti rishabham, - Sadharana gandharam, * - Antara Gandharam, - Shuddha madhyamam, - Panchamam, - Chaturshruti dhaivatham and -Kaishiki nishadam. The ragam is bhashaga because; * - Anthara gandharam occurs sparingly. Reference
Sangita Sampradaya Priyadarshini cakram 1-4

Select compositions

There are a large number of popular songs composed in this rāgam in Carnatic Music as well as Tamil Film Music. Here are some Carnatic music compositions. *''Raghupate rama rakshasa bhima'',''Ee Vasudha'',''Giripai nelakona'', ''dEhi tavapada bhaktim'', ''oorake kalguna'', ''Emana Dichevo'' and ''Vandanamu raghunandana'' composed by Thyagaraja *''Rama ika nannu brovara'' by

Patnam Subramania Iyer Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845 – July 31, 1902) was a composer and singer of Carnatic music. Subramaniya Iyer followed the traditions of the great composer Tyagaraja. He has left behind almost one hundred compositions. Subramaniya Iyer was bor ...

*''Manamu kavalannu'' by

Muthiah Bhagavatar Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar (15 November 1877 – 30 June 1945), commonly known as Muthiah Bhagavatar, is one of Carnatic classical music's famous twentieth-century composers. He also created about 20 '' ragas''. Early life Muthiah was bo ...

*''Sri kamalambikaya'' 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 ...

*''Inkevarunnaaru nannu" in Adi thalam by Annaswaami Sastri s/o Subbaraya Sastri *''Saravana Bhava'' in Adi thalam by

Thanjavur Sankara Iyer Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

*''Sri Vatapi Ganapathiye'' in Adi thalam by

Papanasam Sivan Paapanaasam Raamayya Sivan (26 September 1890 – 1 October 1973) was an Indian composer of Carnatic music and a singer. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1971. He was also a film score composer in Kannada cinema ...

*''Kavave Kanyakumari'' by Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna *''Karunimpa'', Varnam by

Tiruvottiyur Tyaggaya Tiruvottriyur (Thiruvottiyur or TVT) is a neighbourhood in North Chennai, administered by the Greater Chennai Corporation. It is part of the Tondiarpet division, located to the north of Chennai. It is one of the fifteen administrative zones in t ...

*''Chittam Irangada'' by

*''Shanti Neelava Vendum'' by Sethumadhava Rao

In television Series

* "Thamarapoovil Vazhum" by

Berny–Ignatius Berny–Ignatius is an Indian musical duo consisting of brothers Berny and Ignatius Puthenveettil. Primarily working in the Malayalam film industry, they are best known for their work in films such as Thenmavin Kombath, Chandralekha, Kottaram Ve ...

('' Chandralekha'' – Malayalam) * "Chentharmizhi" by

M. Jayachandran Madhusoodanan Jayachandran is an Indian composer, singer, and musician. He has won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director for a record number of nine times. In 2005, he also won the state award for best male singer. In 2015, he wo ...

( Perumazhakkalam – Malayalam) * "Nadha Nee Varumbol" by Alex Paul (

Vasthavam ''Vaasthavam'' () is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language romantic political crime drama film written by Babu Janardhanan and directed by M. Padmakumar. The film revolves around a youth Balachandran Adiga (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and follows his ri ...

– Malayalam)

Language:Tamil

* "Indha Veenaiku Theriyadhu" by V. S. Narasimhan (Rail Sneham – TV Serial) * "Aanmaavin Raagam" by

Rajesh Vaidhya Rajhesh Vaidhya ( ta, ராஜேஷ் வைத்யா) (or, Vaidya), is an Indian veena player born on 14 June 1973 hailing from Tamil Nadu. Besides performing on stage, he has worked with various film music composers. He also acted in th ...

(Sahana – TV Serial) * "Jeevan Neeye" by Renjith Unni (Anbendraale Amma – Music Video)

Film Songs

Language:Tamil

Language:Malayalam

Language: Telugu

Notes

References

{{Janya

Shahana Sahana (pronounced sahānā) is a popular ragam (musical scale) in Carnatic music. It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) associated with the 28th Melakarta rāgam Harikambhoji. The Hindustani music ragam ''Sahana'' is an upper-tetrachord-domina ...

Janya ragas