Janya raga · child of melakarta 64, Vachaspati
Saraswati
सरस्वती
Saraswati is a janya (child) raga born from Vachaspati, the 64th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-shadava.
Saraswatiसरस्वती
No Ga either way; Ni only on the way down.
Drops G3 from Vachaspati.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Saraswati climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R2 M2 P D2 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N2 D2 P M2 R2 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 6 descending (audava-shadava) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R M' P D n |
No Ga either way; Ni only on the way down.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com.
The notes of Saraswati, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R2 | major second (M2) |
| M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Saraswati
- Vagishwari, Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar
The parent: Vachaspati
Saraswati keeps the tuning of its parent Vachaspati but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Vachaspati guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Saraswati
What is the Saraswati raga?
Saraswati is a janya (derived) raga of the 64th melakarta, Vachaspati. Its arohanam is S R2 M2 P D2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 D2 P M2 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Saraswati?
Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M2 P D2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 D2 P M2 R2 S.
What are famous songs in Saraswati?
Well-known compositions include Vagishwari (Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar).