Khamas (raga)

Khamas[1][2] or Kamās/ Khamās /Khamāch/ Khamāj / Kamāchi (கமாச்) (ఖమాస్/కమాచి) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 28th melakarta scale Harikambhoji. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending scale.

Khamas

Arohanam	S M₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S

It is a scale that evokes Shringara rasa.[1][2] It is suitable for javali type compositions.[2]

Structure and Lakshana

Parent scale Harikambhoji with shadjam at C

Khamas is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain rishabham in the ascending scale. It is a vakra-shadava-sampurna rāgam (vakra-shadava, meaning 6 notes in ascending scale with zig-zag moves).[1][2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

• ārohaṇa : S M₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S[lower-alpha 2]

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadham in ascending scale, with chathusruthi rishabham included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.

Alternate versions

Originally, Khamas was an upanga raga (uses only the notes in the parent scale). Later with the usage in javalis and other later compositions, the bhashanga type of Khamas came into use (using notes external to the scale).[1] Kakali nishadam (N3) is introduced as anya swara (external note) occasionally.[1]

According to Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music, Khamas is a sampurna raga with no zig-zag notes (no vakra usage).[1][2]

Khamāj (खमाज) of Hindustani Music closely resembles Khamas raga. The Hindi film song ‘Tere Mere Milan Ki’ from the movie Abhimaan is based on Khamaj.[3]

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to Khamas rāgam. Here are some popular kritis composed in this ragam.

• Santana-gopala krishnam , shadanane sakalam arpayami and Sarasa Dala Nayana by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Sujana jeevana and Seethapathe composed by Tyagaraja
• Entaninne by Subbarama Dikshitar
• Broche vaarevaru ra and Intha paraakaelanayya by Mysore Vasudevachar, whose use of N3 in his compositions in this raga is particularly noteworthy.
• Idathu padam thookki by Papanasam Sivan
• Thillana by Patnam Subramania Iyer
• Dolayam cala Dolayam cala by Annamacharya
• upendram ashrayami santatam by Mysore Vasudevacharya
• mate malaya-dhvaja pandya-sanjate by Muthiah Bhagavatar
• shambho mahadeva chandrachuda by Parameswara Bhagavatar
• saraswati sarasa-vani sarasija-bhavunikki-rani by Varadadasar
• sarasa-sama-mukha ,palaya mamayi bho shrikanthesha by Swathi Tirunal
• jayati jayati bharata-mata by Mayuram Vishvanatha shastri

Film Compositions

Language:Tamil

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Orunaal Oru Pozhuthu	Thiruneelakantar	Papanasam Sivan	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Maanida Jenmam Meendum Vandhidumo	Raja Mukthi	C. R. Subburaman
Naan Pesa Vanthen	Palloti Valartha Killi	Illayaraja	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Pallaviye Charanam	Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam
Roja Ondru Mutham	Komberimookan
Margazhi Matham	Panjami(Unreleased Movie)		S. Janaki, T. V. Gopalakrishnan
Uyirum Neeye	Pavithra	A. R. Rahman	P. Unnikrishnan
Sakiyae Nee	Anthimanthaarai
Oru Naal Oru Pozhudu			Swarnalatha

Notes

1. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: S M G M P D Ṉ Ṡ
   • Western: C F E F G A B♭ C
2. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P M G R S
   • Western: C B♭ A G F E D C

References

1. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
2. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
3. Hindustani music's equivalent of Khamas Raga