Kamavardhani (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 51st ''Melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also referred by the name ''Pantuvarāḷi'',''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications although purists prefer to designate it as Kamavardhini. It literally means "that which increases desire". This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the beginning of a concert. It is called Kāshirāmakriya in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school. The Hindustani music equivalent of ''Kamavardhini'' is the ''Purvi, Poorvi thaat''/Puriya Dhanashree.''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 9th ''chakra Brahma''. The mnemonic name is ''Brahma-Go''. The mnemonic phrase is ''sa ra gu mi pa dha nu''. Its ' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see Swara#Svaras in Carnatic music, ''swaras'' in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms): *Arohana, : *Avarohana, : (the notes in this scale are ''shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, prathi madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham, kakali nishadham'') It is a sampoorna raga, ''sampoorna'' rāgam – a rāgam that has all seven ''swaras'' (notes). This rāgam differs from the 15th ''melakarta'' rāgam ''Mayamalavagowla'', which is the rāgam taught to a beginner in Carnatic music, only by the ''madhyamam''. ''Kamavard ani'' is the ''prati madhyamam'' equivalent of ''Mayamalavagowla''.

''Janya'' rāgams

It has a few minor ''janya'' rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of Janya Ragas#Kamavardhini, List of ''janya'' rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with it.

Popular compositions

* ''Guruvina Gulaamanaaguva Tanaka'' (also sung in Salagabhairavi) – Purandaradasa * ''Harinama Jihveyolirabeku'' By Vyasatirtha * ''Vitalayya Vitalayya'' By Jagannatha Dasa (Kannada poet), Jagannatha Dasa * ''Ramanujare Namo'' By Kanakadasa * ''Raghuvara Nannu, Shambo Mahadeva'', ''Saramegani'', ''Aparama bhakthi'', ''Shobhaane'',''Vadaera Daivamu'', ''Sundara daradeham, Ninne Nera Nammi,'' and ''Shiva Shiva Shiva Enarada'' – Thyagaraja * ''Ennaganu Rama Bhajana'' – Bhadrachala Ramadasu * ''Ramanatham Bajeham,'' ''Visalaksheem Visweseem'', ''Senapathe Palayamam'' – Muthuswami Dikshitar, * ''Ninnarul Iyambalagumo'' – Papanasam Sivan * ''Sarasaksha Paripalaya Maamayi'','' Paripalaya Sarasiruha'' and ''Saroruhaasana (Navarathri sixth day krithi)'' – Swati Tirunal * ''Magalahârathide Nēku'', ''Mahitâtma Sevite'' – Kalyani Varadarajan *'' Engum Nirainda Paramporule'' (varnam)- Madurai Sri N Krishnan *''Sharanam tava'' – Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna *''Shankari Ninne'' – Mysore Vasudevachar *Kunjitha padhathai by Gopalakrishnabharathi * Alli undidalaam vareer by Dandapani desikar

Film Songs

Language: Tamil language, Tamil

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam. ''Kamavardani's'' notes when shifted using ''Graha bhedam'', yields ''Kanakangi'' (the 1st ''melakarta''). ''Graha bhedam'' is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the ''shadjam'' to the next note in the rāgam. See further details and an illustration of ''Graha bhedam#Kanakangi, Graha bhedam on Kanakangi''.

Notes

References

{{Janya, state=collapsed Melakarta ragas