Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

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 carries a mood of Shanta: stillness; the air barely moves.

Anandabhairaviआनन्दभैरवी

6 up · 7 downshadava-sampurnavakra turnglide

A cradle of a raga; the zigzag at the start is its whole character.

Drops D1 from Natabhairavi.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SG2R2G2M1PD2PS'S'N2D2PM1G2R2S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

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
Notes6 ascending, 7 descending (shadava-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS R g m P D n

A cradle of a raga; the zigzag at the start is its whole character.

The notes of Anandabhairavi, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G2minor third (m3)
M1perfect fourth (P4)
Pperfect fifth (P5)
D2major sixth (M6)
N2minor seventh (m7)

See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.

Songs to learn in Anandabhairavi

Anandabhairavi is explored most in alapana and improvisation. Sing its arohanam and avarohanam slowly over a tanpura to feel its path, and open it in the parent raga’s guide.

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.

Open Anandabhairavi in the 3D sphere →

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.