Nathaniel School of MusicThe Melakarta Sphere

Janya raga · child of melakarta 22, Kharaharapriya · vakra

Sri

श्री

Sri is a janya (child) raga born from Kharaharapriya, the 22nd melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-sampurna, and known in Hindustani music as no equivalent; Hindustani Shree is a different raga. It carries a mood of Veera: valour; sparks climb.

Sriश्री

5 up · 7 downaudava-sampurnavakra turnglide

A vakra descent that circles before it lands; ancient and grave.

Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs. Hindustani cousin: no equivalent; Hindustani Shree is a different raga.

arohana ↗avarohana ↘SR2M1PN2S'S'N2PD2N2PM1R2G2R2S
vakra: the line turns against its own direction

Arohanam and avarohanam

Sri climbs and falls along these paths:

Arohanam (up)S R2 M1 P N2 S'
Avarohanam (down)S' N2 P D2 N2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S
Notes5 ascending, 7 descending (audava-sampurna)
Hindustani sargamS R g m P D n

A vakra descent that circles before it lands; ancient and grave.

The notes of Sri, as Western intervals

SwaraInterval above Sa
Sunison (1)
R2major second (M2)
G2minor 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 Sri

  • Endaro MahanubhavuluTyagaraja · one of the five Pancharatna kritis
  • Sri VaralakshmiMuthuswami Dikshitar
  • Nama KusumaMuthuswami Dikshitar

The parent: Kharaharapriya

Sri 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 Sri in the 3D sphere →

Questions about Sri

What is the Sri raga?

Sri is a janya (derived) raga of the 22nd melakarta, Kharaharapriya. Its arohanam is S R2 M1 P N2 S' and its avarohanam is S' N2 P D2 N2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S.

What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Sri?

Arohanam (ascending): S R2 M1 P N2 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N2 P D2 N2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S.

What are famous songs in Sri?

Well-known compositions include Endaro Mahanubhavulu (Tyagaraja), Sri Varalakshmi (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Nama Kusuma (Muthuswami Dikshitar).

What is Sri in Western or Hindustani music?

Its Hindustani counterpart is no equivalent; Hindustani Shree is a different raga.