Janya raga · child of melakarta 20, Natabhairavi
Bhairavi
भैरवी
Bhairavi is a janya (child) raga born from Natabhairavi, the 20th melakarta. It is sampurna (all seven) in ascent, classified sampurna-sampurna. It carries a mood of Karuna: pathos; the air falls like slow rain.
Bhairaviभैरवी
D2 climbing, D1 descending; the great raga for a long alapana.
Keeps all seven notes of Natabhairavi; only the path differs.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Bhairavi climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S |
| Notes | 7 ascending, 7 descending (sampurna-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R g m P d D n |
D2 climbing, D1 descending; the great raga for a long alapana.
The notes of Bhairavi, 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) |
| D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Bhairavi
Bhairavi 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
Bhairavi 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 Bhairavi
What is the Bhairavi raga?
Bhairavi is a janya (derived) raga of the 20th melakarta, Natabhairavi. Its arohanam is S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Bhairavi?
Arohanam (ascending): S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S.