Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 29, Dheerasankarabharanam

Arabhi

आरभि

Arabhi is a janya (child) raga born from Dheerasankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-sampurna. It carries a mood of Veera: valour; sparks climb.

Arabhiआरभि

5 up · 7 downaudava-sampurnaglide

Bright and forthright going up, full and rounded coming down.

Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2M1PD2S'S'N3D2PM1G3R2S

Arohanam and avarohanam

Arabhi climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 M1 P D2 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Notes5 ascending, 7 descending (audava-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS R G m P D N

Bright and forthright going up, full and rounded coming down.

The notes of Arabhi, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G3major third (M3)
M1perfect fourth (P4)
Pperfect fifth (P5)
D2major sixth (M6)
N3major seventh (M7)

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

Songs to learn in Arabhi

Arabhi 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: Dheerasankarabharanam

Arabhi keeps the tuning of its parent Dheerasankarabharanam but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Dheerasankarabharanam guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.

Open Arabhi in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Arabhi

What is the Arabhi raga?

Arabhi is a janya (derived) raga of the 29th melakarta, Dheerasankarabharanam. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 P D2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Arabhi?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 P D2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S.