Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya · vakra
Kapi
कापी
Kapi is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-sampurna. It is bhashanga: it borrows swaras from outside its parent. It carries a mood of Bhakti: devotion; a soft settling.
Kapiकापी
Two Nis and a borrowed brightness; G3 also slips into its phrases.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya. Borrows N3 from outside Kharaharapriya: a bhashanga raga.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Kapi climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 M1 P N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 7 descending (audava-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R g m P D n N |
Two Nis and a borrowed brightness; G3 also slips into its phrases.
Anya swaras (from outside Kharaharapriya): N3 in the written path; G3 in its phrases only.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com.
The notes of Kapi, 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) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Kapi
- Anyayamu Seyakura, Tyagaraja
- Atade Dhanyudura, Tyagaraja
The parent: Kharaharapriya
Kapi 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 Kapi
What is the Kapi raga?
Kapi is a janya (derived) raga of the 22nd melakarta, Kharaharapriya. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 P N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Kapi?
Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 P N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are famous songs in Kapi?
Well-known compositions include Anyayamu Seyakura (Tyagaraja), Atade Dhanyudura (Tyagaraja).