Janya raga · child of melakarta 8, Hanumatodi · vakra
Ghanta
घण्टा
Ghanta is a janya (child) raga born from Hanumatodi, the 8th melakarta. It is shadava (six notes) in ascent, classified shadava-sampurna. It is bhashanga: it borrows swaras from outside its parent.
Ghantaघण्टा
Bhashanga: it climbs on R2, from outside Todi, and comes home on R1.
Keeps all seven notes of Hanumatodi. Borrows R2 from outside Hanumatodi: a bhashanga raga.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Ghanta climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S G2 R2 M1 P N2 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S |
| Notes | 6 ascending, 7 descending (shadava-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S r R g m P d n |
Bhashanga: it climbs on R2, from outside Todi, and comes home on R1.
Anya swaras (from outside Hanumatodi): R2 in the written path.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas).
The notes of Ghanta, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R1 | minor second (m2) |
| R2 | major second (M2) |
| G2 | minor third (m3) |
| M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Ghanta
- Etla Kanugondunu, Tyagaraja
The parent: Hanumatodi
Ghanta keeps the tuning of its parent Hanumatodi but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Hanumatodi guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Ghanta
What is the Ghanta raga?
Ghanta is a janya (derived) raga of the 8th melakarta, Hanumatodi. Its arohanam is S G2 R2 M1 P N2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Ghanta?
Arohanam (ascending): S G2 R2 M1 P N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S.
What are famous songs in Ghanta?
Well-known compositions include Etla Kanugondunu (Tyagaraja).