Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 28, Harikambhoji · vakra

Sahana

सहाना

Sahana is a janya (child) raga born from Harikambhoji, the 28th melakarta. It is sampurna (all seven) in ascent, classified sampurna-sampurna. It carries a mood of Karuna: pathos; the air falls like slow rain.

Sahanaसहाना

7 up · 7 downsampurna-sampurnavakra turnglide

Tender and pleading; every phrase leans on its gamaka.

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

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2G3M1PM1D2N2S'S'N2D2PM1G3M1R2G3R2S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Arohanam and avarohanam

Sahana climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 G3 M1 P M1 D2 N2 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N2 D2 P M1 G3 M1 R2 G3 R2 S
Notes7 ascending, 7 descending (sampurna-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS R G m P D n

Tender and pleading; every phrase leans on its gamaka.

The notes of Sahana, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G3major third (M3)
M1perfect fourth (P4)
Pperfect fifth (P5)
D2major sixth (M6)
N2minor seventh (m7)

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

Songs to learn in Sahana

Sahana 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: Harikambhoji

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

Open Sahana in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Sahana

What is the Sahana raga?

Sahana is a janya (derived) raga of the 28th melakarta, Harikambhoji. Its arohanam is S R2 G3 M1 P M1 D2 N2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D2 P M1 G3 M1 R2 G3 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Sahana?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 G3 M1 P M1 D2 N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D2 P M1 G3 M1 R2 G3 R2 S.