Vagadheeswari

Vagadheeswari (pronounced vāgadheeśwari) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 34th melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Bhogachhāyānāţa in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1][2]

Vagadheeswari
ArohanamS R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₃ S
Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style Tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

Structure and Lakshana
Vagadheeshwari scale with shadjam at C

It is the 4th rāgam in the 6th chakra Rutu. The mnemonic name is Rutu-Bhu. The mnemonic phrase is sa ru gu ma pa dhi ni.[1] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

The swaras shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham are used in this scale. As Vagadheeshwari is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Nasikabhooshani, which is the 70th melakarta scale.

Janya rāgams

Vagadheeshwari has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Magadhi and Mohanāngi are occasionally heard. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Vagadheeswari.

Compositions

Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Vagadheeshwari.

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

Vagadheeshwari's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other minor melakarta rāgams, namely, Naganandini and Bhavapriya. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Naganandini.

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