Janya raga · child of melakarta 29, Dheerasankarabharanam
Hamsadhwani
हंसध्वनि
Hamsadhwani is a janya (child) raga born from Dheerasankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-audava, with the same notes as the Hindustani raga Hamsadhwani. It carries a mood of Veera: valour; sparks climb.
Hamsadhwaniहंसध्वनि
The swan call, created by Ramaswami Dikshitar and usually sung early in a concert; Vatapi Ganapatim lives here.
Drops M1 and D2 from Dheerasankarabharanam. Hindustani cousin: Hamsadhwani.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Hamsadhwani climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 G3 P N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N3 P G3 R2 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 5 descending (audava-audava) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R G P N |
The swan call, created by Ramaswami Dikshitar and usually sung early in a concert; Vatapi Ganapatim lives here.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com.
The notes of Hamsadhwani, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R2 | major second (M2) |
| G3 | major third (M3) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Hamsadhwani
- Vatapi Ganapatim, Muthuswami Dikshitar · a kriti to Ganesha
- Raghunayaka, Tyagaraja
The parent: Dheerasankarabharanam
Hamsadhwani keeps the tuning of its parent Dheerasankarabharanam but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Dheerasankarabharanam guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Hamsadhwani
What is the Hamsadhwani raga?
Hamsadhwani is a janya (derived) raga of the 29th melakarta, Dheerasankarabharanam. Its arohanam is S R2 G3 P N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 P G3 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Hamsadhwani?
Arohanam (ascending): S R2 G3 P N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 P G3 R2 S.
What are famous songs in Hamsadhwani?
Well-known compositions include Vatapi Ganapatim (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Raghunayaka (Tyagaraja).
What is Hamsadhwani in Western or Hindustani music?
The Hindustani raga Hamsadhwani uses the same notes.