Dhanyasi

Dhanyasi is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 8th melakarta scale Hanumatodi. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending scale. It is a combination of the pentatonic scale Shuddha Dhanyasi and the sampurna raga scale Hanumatodi.[1]

Dhanyasi
ArohanamS G₂ M₁ P N₂ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₁ 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

This is the common and popular scale and is used for portraying the bhakthi rasa.[1] According to the Muthuswami Dikshitar school, there exists a scale with same name, Dhanyasi, which is derived from Natabhairavi melakarta scale, instead of Hanumatodi scale.[2] This scale is less popular and has far less compositions set to it.

Structure and Lakshana
Ascending scale with shadjam at C, which is same as Udayaravichandrika scale
Descending scale with shadjam at C, which is same as Hanumatodi scale

Dhanyasi is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain rishabham or dhaivatam in the ascending scale. It is an audava-sampurna rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic ascending scale).[1][2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

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

The rāgam used by Dikshitar school of music uses chathusruti rishabham (R2) in the descending scale, in place of shuddha rishabham (R1), bringing it under the 20th melakarta Natabhairavi.[2]

There are many compositions set to Dhanyasi rāgam.

  • Sangeeta gnanamu, Ramabhirama Manasu and Nee chitthamu composed by Tyagaraja
  • Kalayami sriramam by Swati Tirunal
  • Chudamanikanda by Arunachala Kavi
  • Nammina varini by Bhadrachala Ramadas
  • Dasara nindisabeda by Purandara Dasa
  • Vani arul purivai by Papanasam Sivan
  • Sri Ranganathaya namasthe and Mayuranatham anisham by Muthuswamy Dikshitar
  • Meenalochana brova by Shyama Sastri
  • Ni Inda mayam varnam by Papanasam Sivan

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

Graha Bhedam

Salaga Bhairavi can be derived from Dhanyasi when sung from Nishadam to Nishadam.

Scale similarities
  • Udayaravichandrika, also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi has a symmetric pentatonic scale, with the notes same as the ascending scale of Dhanyasi. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S G2 M1 P N2 S : S N2 P M1 G2 S
  • Dhanyasi scale as per Dikshitar school uses chatusruti rishabham in descending scale in place of the shuddha rishabham. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S G2 M1 P N2 S : S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

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