Janya raga · child of melakarta 20, Natabhairavi · vakra
Anandabhairavi
आनन्दभैरवी
Anandabhairavi is a janya (child) raga born from Natabhairavi, the 20th melakarta. It is shadava (six notes) in ascent, classified shadava-sampurna. It is bhashanga: it borrows swaras from outside its parent. It carries a mood of Shanta: stillness; the air barely moves.
Anandabhairaviआनन्दभैरवी
A cradle of a raga; the zigzag at the start is its whole character.
Drops D1 from Natabhairavi. Borrows D2 from outside Natabhairavi: a bhashanga raga.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Anandabhairavi climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 P S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S |
| Notes | 6 ascending, 7 descending (shadava-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R g m P D n |
A cradle of a raga; the zigzag at the start is its whole character.
Anya swaras (from outside Natabhairavi): D2 in the written path; G3, N3 in its phrases only.
Parent and paths checked against Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com. Sources differ: The Wikipedia article files it under mela 22 Kharaharapriya; karnatik.com, the Wikipedia janya list and ragasurabhi keep it under 20. Karnatik.com also adds N2 before the upper Sa.
The notes of Anandabhairavi, 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 Anandabhairavi
- Marivere Gati, Syama Sastri
- Kamalamba Samrakshatu, Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Manasa Guruguha, Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Ksheerasagara Vihara, Tyagaraja
The parent: Natabhairavi
Anandabhairavi keeps the tuning of its parent Natabhairavi but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Natabhairavi guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Anandabhairavi
What is the Anandabhairavi raga?
Anandabhairavi is a janya (derived) raga of the 20th melakarta, Natabhairavi. Its arohanam is S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 P S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Anandabhairavi?
Arohanam (ascending): S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 P S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are famous songs in Anandabhairavi?
Well-known compositions include Marivere Gati (Syama Sastri), Kamalamba Samrakshatu (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Manasa Guruguha (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Ksheerasagara Vihara (Tyagaraja).