Kalyani is a

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 derived. A ''melaka ...

raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

(parent musical scale) in the

Carnatic music Carnatic music (known as or in the Dravidian languages) is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and southern Odisha. It is o ...

. It is the prati madhyama equivalent of the raga

Sankarabharanam Sankarabharanam may refer to: * ''Sankarabharanam'' (1980 film), an Indian Telugu-language musical drama film * ''Sankarabharanam'' (2015 film), an Indian Telugu-language crime comedy film * Sankarabharanam (raga), a rāga in Carnatic music ...

. It was called Kalyan but is now more popularly called Yaman in

Hindustani Music Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...

. Its Western equivalent is the

Lydian mode The modern Lydian mode is a seven-tone musical scale formed from a rising pattern of pitches comprising three whole tones, a semitone, two more whole tones, and a final semitone. : Because of the importance of the major scale in modern m ...

Kalyani in Carnatic music

In South Indian weddings it is a very prominently played raga. The word ''Kalyani'' means ''she who causes auspicious things''. It is the 65th

raga under the Katapayadi

sankhya Samkhya or Sankhya (; ) is a dualistic orthodox school of Hindu philosophy. It views reality as composed of two independent principles, '' Puruṣa'' ('consciousness' or spirit) and ''Prakṛti'' (nature or matter, including the human mind an ...

. It is also called ''Mechakalyani''. The notes for Kalyani are S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₃. Kalyani is the first Prathi Madhyama raga that was ever discovered. It was obtained by the process of Graha Bhedam or modal shift of tonic of the ancient Shadja Grama.

Specifics on this raga

Kalyani has scope for elaborate alapana. One should not remain too long on panchamam (pa) or alternate between shadjamam and panchamam too frequently. Kalyani is prominently known among the public. It is often performed at the beginning of concerts because it is considered auspicious.

Structure and lakshana

It is the 5th ragam in the 11th chakra ''Rudra''. The mnemonic name is ''Rudra-Ma''. The mnemonic phrase is ''sa ri gu mi pa dhi (or 'di') nu''.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications Its structure is as follows (see '' swaras in Carnatic music'' for details on below notation and terms): * : * : The notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, chatushūruti rishabam, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam,panchamam, chatushruti dhaivatam, kakali nishadam''. It is a Sampurna raga in Carnatic music, that is to say, has all the seven notes: ''Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni''. It is the ''prati madhyamam'' equivalent of ''

'', which is the 29th ''melakarta''. This raga is very significant to the chart, because it is sung with all higher notes.

Janya ragams

Kalyani has many

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 vari ...

ragams (derived scales)associated with it, of which ''Hamir Kalyani'', ''

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 ' ...

'', '' Amritha Kalyani'', ''Saranga'', '' Nada Kalyani'', '' Sunadavinodini'' and ''

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 ...

'' are very popular. See '' List of Janya Ragams'' for full list of rāgams associated with Kalyani.

Related ragams

This section covers the theoretical aspects of Kalyani. Kalyani's notes when shifted using

Graha bhedam ''Graha Bhedam'' in Carnatic music is the process (or result of the process) of shifting the Tonic (music), Tonic note (''Śruti (music), śruti'') to another note in the rāgam and arriving at a different rāgam. Its equivalent in Hindustani cl ...

, yields 5 other major Melakarta ragams, namely, ''

Hanumatodi Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi (pronounced hanumatōdi and tōdi), is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music. It is the 8th ''melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system. This is sung very often in conce ...

'', ''

Natabhairavi Naṭabhairavi is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 20th ''melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system. It corresponds to the Natural minor scale (alias Aeolian mode) of western mus ...

'', ''

Kharaharapriya Kharaharapriya is a rāga in Carnatic music. It is the 22nd ''melakarta'' rāga (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāga system. It is possible that the name of the ragam was originally ''Harapriya'' but it was changed to conform to the Kat ...

'' and ''

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 ...

''. For further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam of this ragam refer Related ragams section in Sankarabharanam page.

Popular compositions

Nearly every significant Carnatic composer (including the Trinity of Carnatic music) has composed several pieces in the Kalyani ragam. Kalyani is considered one of the "major" ragams of Carnatic music along with ''

'', ''

Todi Todi (; ''Tuder'' in antiquity) is a town and ''comune'' (municipality) of the province of Perugia (region of Umbria) in central Italy. It is perched on a tall two-crested hill overlooking the east bank of the river Tiber, commanding distant view ...

'' and ''

'' (the set of "major" rāgams is an informal grouping of the most popular

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 derived. A ''melaka ...

ragams used for elaboration and exploration, and which often form the centerpiece of a Carnatic music concert in the form of a ''

Ragam Tanam Pallavi Ragam Tanam Pallavi (RTP) is a form of singing in Carnatic music which allows the musicians to improvise to a great extent. It is one of the most complete aspects of Indian classical music, demonstrating the entire gamut of talents and the depth ...

(RTP)'' or a ''

Kriti Kriti may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kriti (music), a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music * ''Kriti'' (film), a 2016 Indian Hindi-language short film * Kriti TV, Greek TV station People with the name * Kriti Bhar ...

''). See Related ragams section for further information on relationships between these ragams. The state anthem of

Mysore Mysore ( ), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, the city functioned as the capital of the ...

, '' Kayou Shri Gowri'' is also set in this raga. Here is a short list of compositions in Kalyani: *''Vanajakshiro'' is an Adi tala

Varnam Varṇam is a type of composition in the Carnatic music system that encapsulates the key features of a raga, and considered as a foundational element in the learning path. Varnams capture the essence of the ragam in terms of typical swara patt ...

by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar *''Satura Kamini'' is a Pada

varnam Varṇam is a type of composition in the Carnatic music system that encapsulates the key features of a raga, and considered as a foundational element in the learning path. Varnams capture the essence of the ragam in terms of typical swara patt ...

by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal *''Nīvē Gathiyanī'' is a Tishra Matya Tala

Syama Sastri Syama Sastri (Telugu language, Telugu : శ్యామ శాస్త్రి; ; 26 April 1762 – 1827) or Shyama Shastri was a musician and composer of Carnatic music. He was the oldest among the Trinity of Carnatic music, Tyagaraja and Mu ...

*''Vanajakshi Ninne Kori'' is an Ata tala

by Pallavi Gopala Iyer *''Unnaiyanri Veraar'' is an Adi tala

by Dr.

Lalgudi Jayaraman Lalgudi Gopala Iyer Jayaraman (17 September 1930 – 22 April 2013) was an Indian Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. He is commonly grouped with M.S. Gopalakrishnan and T.N.Krishnan as part of the violin trinity of Carnatic mu ...

*''Nanmugaye Nee'' is a

by Delhi V. Krishnamurthy *''Nidhi Chāla Sukhamā'', ''Ē Tāvunnarā'', ''Sundari Nī Divya'', ''Ammā Rāvammā'', ''Sandehamu Elara'', ''Bhajana Seyave'', ''Nammi Vacchina'', ''Rāmā Nīvādukonduvō'', ''Shivē Pāhimām'', ''Taramā Nī Mahima'', ''Īsha Pāhimām'' and ''Vāsudēvanyani'' by

Tyagaraja Sadguru Tyagaraja Swami ( Telugu: సద్గురు త్యాగరాజ స్వామి; 4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Tyagayya, and in full as Kakarla Tyagabrahmam ( Telugu: కాకర్ల త్యాగబ ...

*''Ganapathē Mahāmathē'', ''Kumbhēshvarāya Namastē'', ''Srī Mangalāmbikē'', ''Kāmākshīm Kalyānīm Bhajarē'', ''Abhayāmbā Jagadambā'', ''Śrī Madhurāmbikē'', ''Kamalāmbāṃ Bhajarē'', ''Bhajarē Re Chittha'', ''Shiva Kāmeshwarīm Chinthayēham'' by

Muthuswami Dikshitar Muthuswami Dikshitar (Mudduswamy Dikshitar) (, 24 March 1776 – 21 October 1835), mononymously Dikshitar, was a South Indian poet, singer, veena player, and a prolific composer of Indian classical music. He was the youngest member of what is re ...

*''Kantimati Karunamrta'' by Subbarama Dikshitar *''Parāmugam Yēnammā'', ''Himādri Suthē Pāhimaṃ'', ''Birāna Varālichi'', ''Dēvī Nannu Brovavammā'', ''Srī Kāmākshī Kāvavē'' and ''Thalli Ninnu Nēra Nammi'' by

in Telugu *''Ninnuvina Gathi Gana'' and ''Vina Anyayamu'' by Subbaraya Sastri *''Adrisutavara'', ''Pankaja lōcana'', ''Pahimaṃ Śrī Vāgīśvari (Navarathri second day krithi)'', ''Paripahimamayi'', ''Sarasa Suvadana'' and ''Sevesyanandureswara'' by Swathi Thirunal *''Madhava Hridhi'', ''Geetha Rasike Sugunalaye'', ''Bala Sarasa'' and ''Sarasija Bhava Jaye'' by

Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi Oothukkaadu Venkata Kavi (-1765) or Oottukkaadu Venkata Subramanyar was one of the pioneering composers in Indian classical Carnatic music. He lived in South India in the present-day state of Tamil Nadu. Also known by the name Oothukkaadu V ...

*''Nee Sari Sati'' by Ponniah Pillai of the Tanjore Quartet *''Nannu Brovamani Cheppave'', ''Bhajare Sri Ramam'' by

Bhadrachala Ramadasu Kancharla Gopanna () ( – 1688), popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu (), was a 17th-century devotee of the Hindu god Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of ...

*''Kathaya Kathaya'' by Narayana Teertha *''Kallu Sakkare KoLLiro'' (3rd Navaratna Malike), ''Kelano Hari Talano'', ''Nambi Kettavarillavo Rangayya'', ''Anjikinyatakayya'', ''Dayamado Ranga'' and ''Saranambe Vani'' by

Purandara Dasa Purandara Dasa (IAST: Purandara Dāsa; (1470 – 1564) was a composer, singer and a Haridasa philosopher from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a follower of Madhwacharya, Madhvacharya's Dwaitha, Dvaita philosophy. He was one of the chi ...

*''Kailasapathe Mam Pahi'' and ''Shrimadadi Thyagaraja'' by

Mysore Vasudevachar Mysore Vasudevacharya (28 May 1865 – 17 May 1961) was an Indian musician and composer of Carnatic music compositions who belonged to the direct line of Thyagaraja's disciples. Vasudevachar's compositions (numbering over 200) were mostly in Telu ...

*''Tiliyado Ninnata'' By Kalluru Subbannacharya(Vyasa Vitthala Dasa) *''Unnai Allāl, Devī Srī Mīnalochanī, Vāyu Kumāran, Kanindharul Purindhāl, Sundarēshwaranē, Tēril Ērinān, Venkataramanā Pankaja and Chidambaram Ena Manam'' 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 a ...

*''Sadānandamē'' by Koteeswara Iyer *''Mahātripurasundarī'' by Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar *''Birana Brova Ide'' by Tarangambadi Panchanada Iyer *''Kinthu Cheyvu Njaninnaho(Padam)'' by Swathi Thirunal *''Gaddari Vagala/Iddari Sanduna(Padam)'', ''Endhu Dachukondu(Padam)'' and ''Soyagamuna(Padam)'' by

Kshetrayya Kshetrayya (–1680) was a prolific Telugu poet. He lived in the area of Andhra Pradesh in South India. He composed a number of ''padams'' and ''keertanas'', the prevalent formats of his time. He is credited with more than 4000 compositions, ...

*''Thaiyale Unnai(Padam)'' by Subbarama Iyer *''Virahani(Padam)'' by Sitarama Sharma *''Entati Kuluke( Javali)'' by Dharmapuri Subbarayar *''Thaya Ragamalika Tillana'' by M Balamurali Krishna with Graha Bedam to Shankarabharanam,

Mohanam Mohanam is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāga (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is usually described as a ''janya'' rāga of Harikamboji (28th Melakartha Raga). ...

Hindolam Hindōḷaṃ is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (5 notes in arohana and avarohana) as it does not have all the seven ''swaras'' (musical notes). Hindolam is not the same a ...

and

Darbari Kanada Darbari Kanada, or simply Raga Darbari (pronounced darbāri kānada), is a raga in Carnatic music. It is a janya ragam (derived scale) of 20th Melakarta raga Natabhairavi. It is believed to be borrowed into Hindustani classical music by M ...

Film songs

The most popular film composition set in Kalyani is "Mannavan Vandhanadi Thozhi" by K. V. Mahadevan rendered by P. Susheela," and ''Sindhanai Sei Maname'' by G. Ramanadhan.

M. S. Viswanathan Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan (24 June 1928 – 14 July 2015), also known as M.S.V., was an Indian music director, singer and actor who predominantly worked in Tamil film industry. Popularly known by the sobriquet "Mellisai Mannar" (), he ...

has composed numerous songs in Kalyani such as "''Isai Ketal Puvi''" from the movie '' Thavapudhalavan'', "''Indha Mandrathil''" from ''

Policekaran Magal ''Policekaran Magal'' () is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by C. V. Sridhar. Based on B. S. Ramiah's play of the same name, it stars Balaji, Muthuraman, Vijayakumari, Santha Kumari and Pushpalatha. The film was released ...

'', "''Maalai Sudum mananaal''" from '' Nichaya Thamboolam'', "''Kannan Vandhan''" from ''

Ramu The Ramu River is a major river in northern Papua New Guinea. The headwaters of the river are formed in the Kratke Range from where it then travels about northwest to the Bismarck Sea. Along the Ramu's course, it receives numerous tributaries ...

'', "''Azhagennum Oviyam Inge''", "''Paar Magale Paar''", "''Varuvan Vadivelan''", "''Maduraiyil Parandha Meenkodi''", "''Mugathil Mugam paarkalam''". "''Amma Endrazhaikkaatha Uyirillaye''" by

Ilayaraja Ilaiyaraaja (born R. Gnanathesikan) is an Indian musician, composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and playback singer popular for his works in Indian cinema, predominately in Tamil in addition to Telugu, M ...

, "Manmadha Pournami" (P. Susheela) in Panchavankadu by G. Devarajan. The track ''Kalaivaniye'' in Sindhu Bhairavi is set in the Kalyani rāgam and sung without an avarohaṇam. The Bharathiar composition ''Veenai Adi Nee Enakku'' from the movie

Ezhavathu Manithan ''Ezhavathu Manithan'' ( ) is a 1982 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language film co-written and directed by K. Hariharan (director), K. Hariharan. Inspired by a real-life incident, the film focuses on environmental pollution and exploitation of i ...

is set in the Kalyani ragam. The Telugu movie

has a

Shloka Shloka or śloka ( , from the root , Macdonell, Arthur A., ''A Sanskrit Grammar for Students'', Appendix II, p. 232 (Oxford University Press, 3rd edition, 1927).) in a broader sense, according to Monier-Williams's dictionary, is "any verse or stan ...

''"Māṇikya Upalālayanti"'' set in this ragam. "''Aa Nimishathinte''" from the Malayalam movie

Chandrakantham ''Chandrakantham'' is a 1974 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Sreekumaran Thampi and produced by Rajashilpi. The film stars Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi, Adoor Bhasi and Balakrishnan in the lead roles. The film has musical score by M. S. Viswan ...

and "''Swarganandini''" from Lankadahanam composed by

is set in Kalyani.

Tamil

Malayalam

Historical information

Yaman/Aiman is not an ancient raga. It is first mentioned in the literature in the late 16th century, by which time it was very popular: The Sahasras contains 45

dhrupad Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani classical music from the Indian subcontinent. It is the oldest known style of major vocal styles associated with Hindustani classical music (for example in the Haveli Sangeet of Pushtimarg Sampradaya), and is als ...

song-texts for Kalyan and five for Iman-Kalyan. According to

Venkatamakhin Venkatamakhin (; ) or Venkatamakhi, was an Indian poet, musician, and musicologist of Carnatic music. He is renowned for his ''Chaturdandiprakashika'' in which he explicates the Melakarta (asampurna scheme), melakarta system of classifying rag ...

(1620), Kalyan was a favourite melody to the Arabs, and

Pundarika Pundalik () or Pundarika (), () was an Indian saint and a devotee of the Hindu deity Vithoba. Vithoba is a Vaishnava deity, considered a reincarnation of Vishnu and Krishna. Pundalik is believed to have brought Vithoba to Pandharpur, where the ...

included Yaman among his 'Persian' Ragas.Bor 1997

Notes

References

Literature

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External links

* {{Janya, state=collapsed Melakarta ragas