Janya raga · child of melakarta 15, Mayamalavagowla · vakra
Gowla
गौळ
Gowla is a janya (child) raga born from Mayamalavagowla, the 15th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-shadava.
Gowlaगौळ
One of the five ghana ragas; the fall turns R1 G3 M1 R1 before home.
Drops D1 from Mayamalavagowla.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Gowla climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R1 M1 P N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N3 P M1 R1 G3 M1 R1 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 6 descending (audava-shadava) |
| Hindustani sargam | S r G m P N |
One of the five ghana ragas; the fall turns R1 G3 M1 R1 before home.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas). Sources differ: Ragasurabhi gives a longer vakra fall, S N3 P M1 G3 M1 R1 G3 M1 R1 S.
The notes of Gowla, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R1 | minor second (m2) |
| G3 | major third (M3) |
| M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Gowla
- Dudukugala, Tyagaraja · one of the five Pancharatna kritis
The parent: Mayamalavagowla
Gowla keeps the tuning of its parent Mayamalavagowla but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Mayamalavagowla guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Gowla
What is the Gowla raga?
Gowla is a janya (derived) raga of the 15th melakarta, Mayamalavagowla. Its arohanam is S R1 M1 P N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 P M1 R1 G3 M1 R1 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Gowla?
Arohanam (ascending): S R1 M1 P N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 P M1 R1 G3 M1 R1 S.
What are famous songs in Gowla?
Well-known compositions include Dudukugala (Tyagaraja).