Dhenuka (raga)

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Dhenuka
ArohanamS R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₃ 
Avarohanam N₃ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₁ S
EquivalentNeapolitan minor scale

Dhenuka (pronounced dhēnukā) is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music. It is the 9th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music.

It is called Dhunibinnashadjam[1][2] in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.

Structure and Lakshana[edit]

Dhenuka scale with Shadjam at C

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 2nd chakra Netra. The mnemonic name is Netra-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gi ma pa dha nu.[1] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

(Suddha Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Kakali Nishadham)

As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the Suddha madhyamam equivalent of Shubhapantuvarali, which is the 45th melakarta.

Asampurna Melakarta[edit]

Dhunibinnashadjam is the 9th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same as Dhenuka.[3]

Janya Rāgams[edit]

Dhenuka has a few janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of Janya Rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Dhenuka.

Compositions[edit]

Film Songs[edit]

Language:Tamil[edit]

Song Movie Composer Singer
Aattuviththaal Yaaroruvar Avandhan Manidhan M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan
Yen Soga Kadhaiye Thooral Ninnu Pochchu Ilaiyaraaja Malaysia Vasudevan,Krishnamoorthi
Roja Poonthotam Kannukkul Nilavu P. Unni Krishnan, Anuradha Sriram
Kadhal Ragamum Indiran Chandiran Mano, K. S. Chitra
Malligai Poo Kathilile Enne Petha Raasa Mano
Raathiri Neram Railadi Oram Bramma S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki

Related rāgams[edit]

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

Dhenuka's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other Melakarta rāgams, namely, Shanmukhapriya, Chitrambari and Shoolini. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam.

Notes[edit]

  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S   M P  N 
    • Western: C D E F G A B C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:  N  P M   S
    • Western: C B A G F E D C

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 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
  3. Shree Muthuswami Dikshitar Keerthanaigal, by A Sundaram Iyer, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
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