Varali or Varaali (pronounced varāḷi) 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 classified either as the 39th mela kartha raga or as a ''

janya ''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya raga'' is one derived from one of the 72 ''melakarta'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a varie ...

'' rāgam (derived scale) of the 39th ''

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 ...

'' scale ''

Jhalavarali Jhalavarali (pronounced , meaning ''A moon with the sun's heat''), is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 39th ''Melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is ...

''. Even though it is a mela kartha, the scale is most often rendered with a ''vakra'' scale (zig-zag notes) in the ascending scale.''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras It is a '' vivadi rāgam''. It is the 4th in the list of 5 ''Ghana'' rāgams (''

Nata (raga) Nata (nāṭa) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music), sometimes spelled Nattai. It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 36th ''melakarta'' scale ''Chalanata''. It is a ''janya'' scale, as it d ...

'', '' Gaula'', ''

Arabhi Arabhi or Aarabhi (pronounced ārabhi) is a ragam (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is a ''Janya'' raga (derived scale), whose ''Melakarta'' raga (parent scale, also known as ''janaka'') is '' Shankarabharana ...

'' and '' Shree ragam'' being the others).''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications In olden times, this rāgam was called ''Varati'', and is said to be more than 1300 years old.Summary of the Raganubhava session on Varali on 13 February 2000
/ref> It is with this name that it is referred in old musical texts like ''

Sangita Makarandha Sangita Makaranda is an ancient work on classical music written by Narada. This work is a rare collection of definitions, descriptions and comments on all the essential music by other ancient reputed authors from Bharata Muni to Sharangdeva. It ...

'' and ''

Sangita Ratnakara The ''Sangita-Ratnakara'', सङ्गीतरत्नाकर, (IAST: Saṅgīta ratnākara), literally "Ocean of Music and Dance", is one of the most important musicological texts from India. Composed by Śārṅgadeva (शार्ङ� ...

''.

Structure and Lakshana

''Varali'' is an asymmetric rāgam due to the ''vakra prayoga'' in ascending scale. It is a ''vakra-sampurna-sampurna'' rāgam (''sampurna'' meaning containing all 7 notes). Its ''ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa'' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows: * ārohaṇa : * avarohaṇa : The notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, shuddha rishabham, shuddha gandharam, prati madhyamam, panchamam, shuddha dhaivatam'' and ''kakali nishadham''. The ''madhyamam'' used is said to be slightly higher than the ''prati madhyamam'', and is also called as ''chyuta panchama madhyamam'' (also referred as ''Varali madhyamam''). For the details of the notations and terms, see ''swaras'' in Carnatic music. Some also believe that it can be sung as S R1 G1, and this phrase also appears in many compositions, Kanakanaruchira being one of the most popular.

Belief

It is believed that Varali, when taught directly by a teacher to a student, will strain their relationship or could cause ill effects to one or the other. The ragam is said to be learnt by listening and self-learning.

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to ''Varali'' rāgam. Many compositions in praise of Lord

Ganesha Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu d ...

are set to this raga. Here are some popular ''

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 ...

'' composed in this ragam. *The fourth ''

Pancharatna Kriti The ''Pancharatna kritis'' (transliterated as ''Pañcaratna kṛti'') (Sanskrit: ''pancha'' "five" + ''ratna'' "gems") are a set of five ''kritis'' (songs) in Carnatic classical music, composed by the 18th-century Indian composer Tyagaraja. All ...

'' ''Kanakana ruchira'' composed by

Tyagaraja Thyagaraja (Telugu: త్యాగరాజ) (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Thyāgayya and in full as Kakarla Thyagabrahmam, was a composer and vocalist of Carnatic music, a form of Indian classical music. Tyagaraja and his ...

, the fourth of the 5 gems *Eti janmamiti, Marakathamani and Ne pogadakunte by Tyagaraja *''Mamava Meenakshi'' and ''Sheshachala Nayakam'' 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 ...

*''Karunajudavamma'' and ''Bangaru Kamakshi'' by

Shyama Shastri Shyama Shastri (; 26 April 1762 – 1827) or Syama Sastri was a musician and composer of Carnatic music. He was the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar being the other two. Early life and career Shy ...

*''Mamava Padmanabha'' by

Swathi Thirunal ( ml, സ്വാതി തിരുനാള്‍ രാമവർമ്മ) (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He is also considered as a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 40 ...

*''Intha prodayye'' and ''Valapu'' by

Kshetrajna Kshetrajna (Devnagari: क्षेत्रज्ञ) means the one who knows the field of the body, soul, physical matter. It is the conscious principle in the corporeal frame. In the thirteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains ...

padam *''Ka Vaa Vaa'' 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 ...

*''Valayunniha'' a Malayalam Padam by

*''Ille Vaikuntha namma Srilakshmi'' by

Purandara Dasa Purandara Dasa (IAST: Purandara dāsa) ( 1470 – 1565) was a Haridasa philosopher and a follower of Madhwacharya 's Dwaitha philosophy -saint from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding-prop ...

*''Idhigo Bhadradri'' by

Bhadrachala Ramadasu Kancharla Gopanna ( te, కంచర్ల గోపన్న) ( – 1688), popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu ( te, భద్రాచల రామదాసు), was a 17th-century devotee of the Hindu god Rama, a sain ...

Notes

References

{{Janya, state=collapsed Janya ragas