Amritavarshini

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music), created in the early nineteenth century by Muthuswami Dikshitar. It is an audava rāgam (meaning pentatonic scale) in which only five of the seven swaras (musical notes) are used. It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), fairly popular in Carnatic music. There is a belief that Amr̥tavarṣiṇi causes rain, and that the Carnatic composer Muthuswami Dikshitar brought rain at Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu, India by singing his composition, Aanandaamrutakarshini amrutavarshini.[1][2]

For the Hindustani raga of the same name, see Amritvarshini (raga).
Amritavarshini
ArohanamS G₃ M₂ P N₃ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₃ P M₂ G₃ S

Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style Tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇa
Veṇu
Nāgasvaraṃ
Gottuvadhyam (Citra Vīṇa)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghatam
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

Structure and Lakshana
Amritavarshini scale with shadjam at C

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is a rāgam that does not contain rishabham and dhaivatam. It is a symmetric pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[1][2] in Carnatic music classification). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishādam)

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is considered a janya rāgam of Chitrambari, the 66th Melakarta rāgam, although it can be derived from other melakarta rāgams, such as Kalyani, Gamanashrama or Vishwambari, by dropping both rishabham and dhaivatam. There is another scale that has the same name but is less practiced in current performances. This scale is associated with the 39th melakarta Jhalavarali.[1][2]

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi rāgam lends itself for extensive elaboration and exploration due to the symmetric and pentatonic scale. It has many compositions in both classical music and film music. Here are some popular kritis and film music composed in Amr̥tavarṣiṇi.

  • Ennai Nee Maravate of Dandapani Desikar
  • Sarasiruhanayane of Thyagaraja (usually said misattributed)
  • Sarasijaasani of Muthuswami Dikshitar
  • Aanandaamrutakarshini amritavarshini of Muthuswami Dikshitar
  • Aadi Varuvai Guhane of Punitasri
  • Siddhi Nayakena of M. Balamuralikrishna
  • Sthirata Nahi Nahi Re of Sadashiva Brahmendra
  • Aadinateppadiyo Nadanam, anonymous
  • Sudhamayee Sudhanidi by Muthiah Bhagavatar

In addition to these, Anni Mantramuli Inde Avahinchenu of Annamacharya has been set to music in the Amr̥tavarṣiṇi.

Film Songs

Language: Tamil
Song Movie Composer Singer
Azhagiya Megangal Ganga Gowri M. S. Viswanathan S. Janaki
Sivagami Ada Vandhaal Paattum Bharathamum M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Thoongadha Vizhigal Rendu Agni Natchathiram Illayaraja K.J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Kaathiruntha Malli Malli Mallu Vetti Minor Illayaraja P. Susheela
Vaanin Devi Varuga Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam Illayaraja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Mazhaikku Oru Devaney Sri Raghavendrar Illayaraja K. J. Yesudas
Puthiya Kalai Sasanam Balabarathi K.S. Chitra


Language: Malayalam
  • Oru dalam matram from Jalakam, composed by M G Radhakrishnan , sung by K.J. Yesudas
  • Manam pon Manam from Idavelakku Sesham, composed by Raveendran, sung by K.J. Yesudas
  • Aashadham padumbol from Mazha, composed by Raveendran, sung by K.J. Yesudas
  • Neela lohita hitakarini from Kaveri, composed by Ilayaraja, sung by M. Balamuralikrishna
  • Devi ni en pon veena nadam from Oru Mutham Mani Mutham, composed by Raveendran, sung by K.J. Yesudas
  • Anupallavi of Vilikkatirunnalum virunninettum from Ishtamanu Pakshe, composed by G. Devarajan, sung by K.J. Yesudas
  • Pallavi of Sharatkala megham from Dhruvasangamam, composed by Raveendran, sung by K.J. Yesudas
  • Parts of charanam in Kasturi Gandhikal from Sethubandhanam, composed by G. Devarajan, sung by Ayiroor Sadasivan
  • Pallavi of Aadi parashakti from Ponnapuram Kotta, composed by G. Devarajan, sung by P.B. Sreenivas and P. Leela


Language: Kannada


Language: Telugu

Raga relationships

Graha bhēdham

Amritavarshini's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 1 popular pentatonic rāgam, Karnataka Shuddha Saveri. 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 more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Amr̥tavarṣiṇi.

Scale similarities
  • Hamsadhvani is a rāgam which has chatushruti rishabham in place of the prati madhyamam. See table below for more details
  • Gambhiranata is a rāgam which has shuddha madhyamam in place of the prati madhyamam. See table below for more details
RāgamŚruti
Tonic		CDEFGABC
Amr̥tavarṣiṇiCSG₃M₂PN₃Ṡ
HamsadhvaniCSR₂G₃PN₃Ṡ
GambhiranataC S G₃ M₁ P N₃ Ṡ

See also
  • List of Film Songs based on Ragas

Notes
  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S G M̄ P N Ṡ
    • Western: C E F♯ G B C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ N P M̄ G S
    • Western: C B G F♯ E C

References
  1. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. Rāganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
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