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
Stately evening raga; the ascent bends back at Pa every time.
Keeps all seven notes of Gamanashrama; only the path differs.
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 |
| Notes | 6 ascending, 7 descending (shadava-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S r G M' P D N |
Stately evening raga; the ascent bends back at Pa every time.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com.
The notes of Purvikalyani, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R1 | minor second (m2) |
| G3 | major third (M3) |
| M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| 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 Purvikalyani
- Minakshi Me Mudam, Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Paraloka Sadhaname, Tyagaraja
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.
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.
What are famous songs in Purvikalyani?
Well-known compositions include Minakshi Me Mudam (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Paraloka Sadhaname (Tyagaraja).