Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya
Abheri
आभेरी
Abheri is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-sampurna, with the same notes as the Hindustani raga Bhimpalasi. It carries a mood of Karuna: pathos; the air falls like slow rain.
Abheriआभेरी
Warm and pleading; the older form, still sung in Dikshitar's kritis, took D1 in the fall.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs. Hindustani cousin: Bhimpalasi.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Abheri climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S G2 M1 P N2 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 7 descending (audava-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R g m P D n |
Warm and pleading; the older form, still sung in Dikshitar's kritis, took D1 in the fall.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com.
The notes of Abheri, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R2 | major second (M2) |
| G2 | minor third (m3) |
| M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Abheri
- Veenabheri, Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Bhajare Re Manasa, Mysore Vasudevachar
The parent: Kharaharapriya
Abheri keeps the tuning of its parent Kharaharapriya but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Kharaharapriya guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Abheri
What is the Abheri raga?
Abheri is a janya (derived) raga of the 22nd melakarta, Kharaharapriya. Its arohanam is S G2 M1 P N2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Abheri?
Arohanam (ascending): S G2 M1 P N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are famous songs in Abheri?
Well-known compositions include Veenabheri (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Bhajare Re Manasa (Mysore Vasudevachar).
What is Abheri in Western or Hindustani music?
The Hindustani raga Bhimpalasi uses the same notes.