Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya · vakra
Kanada
कानडा
Kanada is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is shadava (six notes) in ascent, classified shadava-shadava. It carries a mood of Shringara: beauty and longing; the air breathes.
Kanadaकानडा
Northern in blood, Carnatic in dress; the Ga-Ma turn is everything.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Kanada climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 G2 M1 D2 N2 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 P M1 G2 M1 R2 S |
| Notes | 6 ascending, 6 descending (shadava-shadava) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R g m P D n |
Northern in blood, Carnatic in dress; the Ga-Ma turn is everything.
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
Kanada 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
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 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 G2 M1 D2 N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 P M1 G2 M1 R2 S.