Janya raga · child of melakarta 28, Harikambhoji · vakra
Balahamsa
बालहंस
Balahamsa is a janya (child) raga born from Harikambhoji, the 28th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-sampurna. It carries a mood of Hasya: mirth; light motes rise and scatter.
Balahamsaबालहंस
A young swan; the fall touches G3 only at the very end, through a turn at Ma.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Balahamsa climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 M1 P D2 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 D2 P M1 R2 M1 G3 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 7 descending (audava-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R G m P D n |
A young swan; the fall touches G3 only at the very end, through a turn at Ma.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas).
The notes of Balahamsa, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R2 | major second (M2) |
| G3 | major 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 Balahamsa
- Dandamu Pettedanura, Tyagaraja
The parent: Harikambhoji
Balahamsa keeps the tuning of its parent Harikambhoji but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Harikambhoji guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Balahamsa
What is the Balahamsa raga?
Balahamsa is a janya (derived) raga of the 28th melakarta, Harikambhoji. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 P D2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D2 P M1 R2 M1 G3 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Balahamsa?
Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 P D2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D2 P M1 R2 M1 G3 S.
What are famous songs in Balahamsa?
Well-known compositions include Dandamu Pettedanura (Tyagaraja).