Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 65, Mechakalyani · vakra

Saranga

सारङ्ग

Saranga is a janya (child) raga born from Mechakalyani, the 65th melakarta. It is sampurna (all seven) in ascent, classified sampurna-8-note. It carries a mood of Adbhuta: wonder; the air turns on itself.

Sarangaसारङ्ग

7 up · 8 downsampurna-8-notevakra turnglide

Kalyani’s brilliant cousin; the descent borrows the plain Ma.

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

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2G3M2PD2N3S'S'N3D2PM2R2G3M1R2S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Arohanam and avarohanam

Saranga climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N3 D2 P M2 R2 G3 M1 R2 S
Notes7 ascending, 8 descending (sampurna-8-note)
Hindustani sargamS R G m M' P D N

Kalyani’s brilliant cousin; the descent borrows the plain Ma.

The notes of Saranga, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G3major third (M3)
M1perfect fourth (P4)
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 Saranga

Saranga 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: Mechakalyani

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

Open Saranga in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Saranga

What is the Saranga raga?

Saranga is a janya (derived) raga of the 65th melakarta, Mechakalyani. Its arohanam is S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D2 P M2 R2 G3 M1 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Saranga?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D2 P M2 R2 G3 M1 R2 S.