Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 29, Dheerasankarabharanam

Kathanakuthuhalam

कथनकुतूहलम्

Kathanakuthuhalam is a janya (child) raga born from Dheerasankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-sampurna. It carries a mood of Hasya: mirth; light motes rise and scatter.

Kathanakuthuhalamकथनकुतूहलम्

5 up · 7 downaudava-sampurnaglide

A gleeful leap up, all seven down; Raghuvamsha Sudha lives here.

Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2M1D2N3S'S'N3D2PM1G3R2S

Arohanam and avarohanam

Kathanakuthuhalam climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 M1 D2 N3 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Notes5 ascending, 7 descending (audava-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS R G m P D N

A gleeful leap up, all seven down; Raghuvamsha Sudha lives here.

The notes of Kathanakuthuhalam, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G3major third (M3)
M1perfect fourth (P4)
Pperfect fifth (P5)
D2major sixth (M6)
N3major seventh (M7)

See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.

Songs to learn in Kathanakuthuhalam

  • Raghuvamsa SudhaPatnam Subramania Iyer

The parent: Dheerasankarabharanam

Kathanakuthuhalam 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.

Open Kathanakuthuhalam in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Kathanakuthuhalam

What is the Kathanakuthuhalam raga?

Kathanakuthuhalam is a janya (derived) raga of the 29th melakarta, Dheerasankarabharanam. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 D2 N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Kathanakuthuhalam?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 D2 N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S.

What are famous songs in Kathanakuthuhalam?

Well-known compositions include Raghuvamsa Sudha (Patnam Subramania Iyer).