Shadvidamargini

Shadvidamargini (pronounced Shaḍvidamārgini, meaning the one with the road to a hundred forms of knowledge) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 46th melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Stavarājam in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1][2][3]

Shadvidamargini

Arohanam	S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₂ G₂ R₁ S

Structure and Lakshana

Shadvidamargini scale with shadjam at C

It is the 4th rāgam in the 8th chakra Vasu. The mnemonic name is Vasu-Bhu. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gi mi pa dhi ni.[2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• ārohaṇa: S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₂ G₂ R₁ S[lower-alpha 2]

The swaras shuddha rishabham, sadharana gandharam, prati madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham are used in this scale. As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Natakapriya, which is the 10th melakarta scale.

Janya rāgams

Shadvidamargini has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Shadvidamargini.

Compositions

A few compositions set to Shadvidhamargini are:

• Jnanam Osaga Rada by Tyagaraja
• Andaranga Bhakthi by Koteeswara Iyer
• Haimavate bhaja manasa by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna
• sharanam tava charanam by Bharani

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Shadvidamargini's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields Nasikabhooshani, a minor melakarta rāgam. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam.

Notes

1. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: S Ṟ G̱ M̄ P D Ṉ Ṡ
   • Western: C D♭ E♭ F♯ G A B♭ C
2. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P M̄ G̱ Ṟ S
   • Western: C B♭ A G F♯ E♭ D♭ C

References

1. Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal by Vidwan A Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
2. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
3. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras