Carnatic Ragas

Every raga page has a playable arohanam and avarohanam, its classification and character, and the compositions on this site that live in it. Start with Mayamalavagowla - the raga of your first exercises.

Melakarta ragas

Melakarta #15 · Beginner

Mayamalavagowla

S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ - The raga of the very first lessons: every sarali and janta varisai lives here.

1 composition →

Melakarta #65 (Mechakalyani) · Intermediate

Kalyani

S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₃ Ṡ - Bright and regal, defined by its raised (prati) madhyama.

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Melakarta #29 (Dheerasankarabharanam) · Intermediate

Sankarabharanam

S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₃ Ṡ - The grand, serene mela matching the Western major scale - but sung with gamakas no piano can make.

1 composition →

Melakarta #22 · Intermediate

Kharaharapriya

S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ - Flowing and expansive, beloved of Tyagaraja.

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Melakarta #8 · Advanced

Todi (Hanumatodi)

S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂ Ṡ - Deep and ocean-like, dense with gamaka.

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Melakarta #28 · Intermediate

Harikambhoji

S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ - Sweet-toned mela with a gentle nishada; parent of Mohanam, Kambhoji, and a family of beloved janyas.

1 composition →

Melakarta #20 · Intermediate

Natabhairavi

S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂ Ṡ - The natural-minor mela; its janya Hindolam is world-famous.

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Melakarta #26 · Intermediate

Charukesi

S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₂ Ṡ - Major on the way up to Pa, minor above it - a bittersweet colour film composers adore.

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Janya ragas

Janya of Harikambhoji (#28) · Beginner

Mohanam

S R₂ G₃ P D₂ Ṡ - Five swaras of pure charm - the pentatonic raga of the first varnam (Ninnukori) and countless songs across India.

1 composition →

Janya of Sankarabharanam (#29) · Beginner

Hamsadhwani

S R₂ G₃ P N₃ Ṡ - The “swan’s call” - bright, auspicious, and the classic concert opener thanks to Vatapi Ganapathim.

1 composition →

Janya of Natabhairavi (#20) · Beginner

Hindolam

S G₂ M₁ D₁ N₂ Ṡ - Haunting pentatonic beauty - the Carnatic cousin of Hindustani Malkauns.

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Janya of Kharaharapriya (#22) · Beginner

Abhogi

S R₂ G₂ M₁ D₂ Ṡ - Gentle and introspective; home of the beloved beginner varnam Evvari Bodhana.

1 composition →

Janya of Mayamalavagowla (#15) · Beginner

Malahari

S R₁ M₁ P D₁ Ṡ - The geetham raga - Purandara Dasa set Sri Gananatha here, so it is many students’ first taste of a janya.

1 composition →

Janya of Kharaharapriya (#22) · Intermediate

Sree

S R₂ M₁ P N₂ Ṡ - Majestic and auspicious, with a vakra descent that touches gandhara only in passing.

2 compositions →

Janya of Chalanata (#36) · Intermediate

Nattai

S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₃ N₃ Ṡ - Energetic and invocatory - concerts and the Pancharatnas alike open with Nattai (Jagadananda Karaka).

1 composition →

Janya of Mayamalavagowla (#15) · Intermediate

Gowla

S R₁ M₁ P N₃ Ṡ - Ancient and crisp, with a signature zig-zag descent around rishabha.

1 composition →

The 72 Melakarta directory

Every parent scale of Carnatic music, arranged in the twelve chakras of six. Each raga has its own page with a playable scale - the highlighted ones carry full character notes and repertoire.