Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya · vakra

Darbar

दरबार

Darbar is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is shadava (six notes) in ascent, classified shadava-sampurna. It carries a mood of Veera: valour; sparks climb.

Darbarदरबार

6 up · 7 downshadava-sampurnavakra turnglide

Courtly and grand; the Ga hides until the descent bends back to it.

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

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2M1PD2N2S'S'N2D2PM1R2G2R2S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Arohanam and avarohanam

Darbar climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 M1 P D2 N2 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N2 D2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S
Notes6 ascending, 7 descending (shadava-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS R g m P D n

Courtly and grand; the Ga hides until the descent bends back to it.

The notes of Darbar, 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 Darbar

Darbar 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: Kharaharapriya

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

Open Darbar in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Darbar

What is the Darbar raga?

Darbar is a janya (derived) raga of the 22nd melakarta, Kharaharapriya. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 P D2 N2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Darbar?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 P D2 N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S.