Janya raga · child of melakarta 29, Dheerasankarabharanam · vakra
Nilambari
नीलाम्बरी
Nilambari is a janya (child) raga born from Dheerasankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta. It is sampurna (all seven) in ascent, classified sampurna-shadava. It is bhashanga: it borrows swaras from outside its parent.
Nilambariनीलाम्बरी
The climb turns back at Pa; N2 enters its phrases from outside.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs. Touches N2 in its phrases, outside the written path.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Nilambari climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 G3 M1 P D2 P N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N3 P M1 G3 R2 G3 S |
| Notes | 7 ascending, 6 descending (sampurna-shadava) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R G m P D N |
The climb turns back at Pa; N2 enters its phrases from outside.
Anya swaras (from outside Dheerasankarabharanam): N2 in its phrases only.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas). Sources differ: Ragasurabhi gives S G3 M1 P N3 S | S N3 P D2 N2 P M1 G3 R2 M1 G3 S.
The notes of Nilambari, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R2 | major second (M2) |
| G3 | major third (M3) |
| M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Nilambari
- Ennaga Manasuku, Tyagaraja
The parent: Dheerasankarabharanam
Nilambari 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.
Questions about Nilambari
What is the Nilambari raga?
Nilambari is a janya (derived) raga of the 29th melakarta, Dheerasankarabharanam. Its arohanam is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 P N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 P M1 G3 R2 G3 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Nilambari?
Arohanam (ascending): S R2 G3 M1 P D2 P N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 P M1 G3 R2 G3 S.
What are famous songs in Nilambari?
Well-known compositions include Ennaga Manasuku (Tyagaraja).