Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 27, Sarasangi

Nalinakanti

नलिनकान्ति

Nalinakanti is a janya (child) raga born from Sarasangi, the 27th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-shadava. It carries a mood of Hasya: mirth; light motes rise and scatter.

Nalinakantiनलिनकान्ति

5 up · 6 downaudava-shadavaglide

Crystalline and modern; Ma appears only on the way down.

Drops D1 from Sarasangi.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2G3PN3S'S'N3PM1G3R2S

Arohanam and avarohanam

Nalinakanti climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 G3 P N3 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N3 P M1 G3 R2 S
Notes5 ascending, 6 descending (audava-shadava)
Hindustani sargamS R G m P N

Crystalline and modern; Ma appears only on the way down.

The notes of Nalinakanti, as Western intervals

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

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

Songs to learn in Nalinakanti

Nalinakanti 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: Sarasangi

Nalinakanti keeps the tuning of its parent Sarasangi but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Sarasangi guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.

Open Nalinakanti in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Nalinakanti

What is the Nalinakanti raga?

Nalinakanti is a janya (derived) raga of the 27th melakarta, Sarasangi. Its arohanam is S R2 G3 P N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 P M1 G3 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Nalinakanti?

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