Janya raga · child of melakarta 17, Suryakantam · vakra
Sowrashtram
सौराष्ट्रम्
Sowrashtram is a janya (child) raga born from Suryakantam, the 17th melakarta. It is sampurna (all seven) in ascent, classified sampurna-sampurna. It is bhashanga: it borrows swaras from outside its parent.
Sowrashtramसौराष्ट्रम्
Bhashanga: the fall borrows N2 from outside Suryakantam.
Keeps all seven notes of Suryakantam. Borrows N2 from outside Suryakantam: a bhashanga raga.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Sowrashtram climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S R1 G3 M1 P M1 D2 N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N3 D2 N2 D2 P M1 G3 R1 S |
| Notes | 7 ascending, 7 descending (sampurna-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S r G m P D n N |
Bhashanga: the fall borrows N2 from outside Suryakantam.
Anya swaras (from outside Suryakantam): N2 in the written path.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com.
The notes of Sowrashtram, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R1 | minor second (m2) |
| G3 | major third (M3) |
| M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Sowrashtram
Sowrashtram 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: Suryakantam
Sowrashtram keeps the tuning of its parent Suryakantam but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Suryakantam guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Sowrashtram
What is the Sowrashtram raga?
Sowrashtram is a janya (derived) raga of the 17th melakarta, Suryakantam. Its arohanam is S R1 G3 M1 P M1 D2 N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D2 N2 D2 P M1 G3 R1 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Sowrashtram?
Arohanam (ascending): S R1 G3 M1 P M1 D2 N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D2 N2 D2 P M1 G3 R1 S.