Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya · vakra
Kanada
कानडा
Kanada is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is sampurna (all seven) in ascent, classified sampurna-shadava. It carries a mood of Shringara: beauty and longing; the air breathes.
Kanadaकानडा
The climb leaps R2 to Pa and falls back to G2; the descent turns G2 M1 R2.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Kanada climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 P G2 M1 D2 N2 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 P M1 G2 M1 R2 S |
| Notes | 7 ascending, 6 descending (sampurna-shadava) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R g m P D n |
The climb leaps R2 to Pa and falls back to G2; the descent turns G2 M1 R2.
Parent and paths checked against Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com. Sources differ: Karnatik.com gives the climb as S R2 G2 M1 D2 N2 S, without the R2 to Pa leap.
The notes of Kanada, 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) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Kanada
- Sukhi Evvaro, Tyagaraja
- Balambikaya Param, Muthuswami Dikshitar
The parent: Kharaharapriya
Kanada 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.
Questions about Kanada
What is the Kanada raga?
Kanada is a janya (derived) raga of the 22nd melakarta, Kharaharapriya. Its arohanam is S R2 P G2 M1 D2 N2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 P M1 G2 M1 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Kanada?
Arohanam (ascending): S R2 P G2 M1 D2 N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 P M1 G2 M1 R2 S.
What are famous songs in Kanada?
Well-known compositions include Sukhi Evvaro (Tyagaraja), Balambikaya Param (Muthuswami Dikshitar).