Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 29, Dheerasankarabharanam · vakra

Poornachandrika

पूर्णचन्द्रिका

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

Poornachandrikaपूर्णचन्द्रिका

6 up · 6 downshadava-shadavavakra turnglide

A full moon of a raga; brisk, festive, forever turning at Ma.

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

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2M1G3M1PD2PS'S'N3PM1G3M1R2S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Arohanam and avarohanam

Poornachandrika climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 M1 G3 M1 P D2 P S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N3 P M1 G3 M1 R2 S
Notes6 ascending, 6 descending (shadava-shadava)
Hindustani sargamS R G m P D N

A full moon of a raga; brisk, festive, forever turning at Ma.

The notes of Poornachandrika, 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 Poornachandrika

Poornachandrika 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: Dheerasankarabharanam

Poornachandrika 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 Poornachandrika in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Poornachandrika

What is the Poornachandrika raga?

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

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Poornachandrika?

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