Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 53, Gamanashrama · vakra

Purvikalyani

पूर्विकल्याणि

Purvikalyani is a janya (child) raga born from Gamanashrama, the 53rd melakarta. It is shadava (six notes) in ascent, classified shadava-sampurna. It carries a mood of Bhakti: devotion; a soft settling.

Purvikalyaniपूर्विकल्याणि

6 up · 7 downshadava-sampurnavakra turnglide

Stately evening raga; the ascent bends back at Pa every time.

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

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR1G3M2PD2PS'S'N3D2PM2G3R1S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Arohanam and avarohanam

Purvikalyani climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R1 G3 M2 P D2 P S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N3 D2 P M2 G3 R1 S
Notes6 ascending, 7 descending (shadava-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS r G M' P D N

Stately evening raga; the ascent bends back at Pa every time.

The notes of Purvikalyani, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R1minor second (m2)
G3major third (M3)
M2augmented fourth (A4)
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 Purvikalyani

Purvikalyani 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: Gamanashrama

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

Open Purvikalyani in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Purvikalyani

What is the Purvikalyani raga?

Purvikalyani is a janya (derived) raga of the 53rd melakarta, Gamanashrama. Its arohanam is S R1 G3 M2 P D2 P S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D2 P M2 G3 R1 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Purvikalyani?

Arohanam (ascending): S R1 G3 M2 P D2 P S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D2 P M2 G3 R1 S.