Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya

Shivaranjani

शिवरञ्जनी

Shivaranjani is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-audava, and known in Hindustani music as Shivranjani. It carries a mood of Karuna: pathos; the air falls like slow rain.

Shivaranjaniशिवरञ्जनी

5 up · 5 downaudava-audavaglide

Mohanam with a shadowed third; moonlit ache.

Drops M1 and N2 from Kharaharapriya. Hindustani cousin: Shivranjani.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2G2PD2S'S'D2PG2R2S

Arohanam and avarohanam

Shivaranjani climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 G2 P D2 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' D2 P G2 R2 S
Notes5 ascending, 5 descending (audava-audava)
Hindustani sargamS R g P D

Mohanam with a shadowed third; moonlit ache.

The notes of Shivaranjani, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G2minor third (m3)
Pperfect fifth (P5)
D2major sixth (M6)

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

Songs to learn in Shivaranjani

Shivaranjani 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: Kharaharapriya

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

Open Shivaranjani in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Shivaranjani

What is the Shivaranjani raga?

Shivaranjani is a janya (derived) raga of the 22nd melakarta, Kharaharapriya. Its arohanam is S R2 G2 P D2 S' and its avarohanam is S' D2 P G2 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Shivaranjani?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 G2 P D2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' D2 P G2 R2 S.

What is Shivaranjani in Western or Hindustani music?

Its Hindustani counterpart is Shivranjani.