Vakulabharanam

Vakulabharanam scale with shadjam at C

It is the 2nd rāgam in the 3rd chakra Agni. The mnemonic name is Agni-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra 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 R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₂ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S[lower-alpha 2]

Shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham are the swaras used in this scale. As this scale 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 Nāmanārāyaṇi, which is the 50th melakarta scale.

Vātivasantabhairavi is the 14th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same, but the descending scale has notes used in zig-zag manner (vakra prayoga).[4]

• ārohaṇa: S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₂ Ṡ[lower-alpha 3]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₂ D₁ M₁ G₃ M₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S[lower-alpha 4]

Vakulabharanam has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Vasantabhairavi is heard occasionally in concerts. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Vakulabharanam.

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

• Gowrinatham by Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi
• Ye ramuni nammitino by Thyagaraja
• Nambinen ayya by Koteeswara Iyer
• Rama namamai by Mysore Vasudevachar
• KumĀruni valenu kĀvavĒ by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna
• Saadhu tada, a composition by Maharaja Swati Tirunal of Travancore, tuned by Prince Rama Varma.

• Paripaahimaam Siddhivinayaka, by Mysuru Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar

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

Vakulabharanam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 major melakarta rāgams, namely Keeravani and Hemavati along with 1 minor melakarta rāgam Kosalam. 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 Keeravani.

Vakulabharanam corresponds to Phrygian dominant scale in Western music.