Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya · vakra

Mukhari

मुखारी

Mukhari is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is shadava (six notes) in ascent, classified shadava-sampurna. It carries a mood of Karuna: pathos; the air falls like slow rain.

Mukhariमुखारी

6 up · 7 downshadava-sampurnavakra turnglide

The raga of lament; the descent sinks through D1.

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

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2M1PN2D2S'S'N2D1PM1G2R2S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Arohanam and avarohanam

Mukhari climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 M1 P N2 D2 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S
Notes6 ascending, 7 descending (shadava-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS R g m P d D n

The raga of lament; the descent sinks through D1.

The notes of Mukhari, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G2minor third (m3)
M1perfect fourth (P4)
Pperfect fifth (P5)
D1minor sixth (m6)
D2major sixth (M6)
N2minor seventh (m7)

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

Songs to learn in Mukhari

Mukhari 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

Mukhari 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.

Open Mukhari in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Mukhari

What is the Mukhari raga?

Mukhari is a janya (derived) raga of the 22nd melakarta, Kharaharapriya. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 P N2 D2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Mukhari?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 P N2 D2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S.