Sarasangi

Sarasangi scale with shadjam at C

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 5th chakra Bana. The mnemonic name is Bana-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gu ma pa dha 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):

• ārohaṇa: S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S[lower-alpha 2]

This rāgam uses the swaras chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kakali nishadham.

By definition, Sarasangi, a melakarta rāgam, is a sampurna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Latangi, which is the 63rd melakarta scale.

Sarasangi has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Kamala manohari and Nalinakanti are popular. See List of janya rāgams for all rāgams associated with Sarasangi.

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

• Jaya jaya padmanabha by Swati Tirunal
• Sourasenesham vallisham by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Nikela dayaradu by Ramaswami Sivan
• Paripaliso guru vadiraja by R. K. Padmanabha
• Vandeham govinda by M Balamuralikrishna

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

Sarasangi's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, Dharmavati and Chakravakam. 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 Dharmavati.