Janya raga · child of melakarta 39, Jhalavarali · vakra
Varali
वराळी
Varali is a janya (child) raga born from Jhalavarali, the 39th melakarta. It is sampurna (all seven) in ascent, classified sampurna-sampurna. It carries a mood of Karuna: pathos; the air falls like slow rain.
Varaliवराळी
One of the five ghana ragas; the climb circles before it rises.
Keeps all seven notes of Jhalavarali; only the path differs.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Varali climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S G1 R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N3 D1 P M2 G1 R1 S |
| Notes | 7 ascending, 7 descending (sampurna-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S r R M' P d N |
One of the five ghana ragas; the climb circles before it rises.
The notes of Varali, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R1 | minor second (m2) |
| G1 | diminished third (d3) |
| M2 | augmented fourth (A4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Varali
- Seshachala Nayakam — Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Ka Va Va — Papanasam Sivan
The parent: Jhalavarali
Varali keeps the tuning of its parent Jhalavarali but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Jhalavarali guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Varali
What is the Varali raga?
Varali is a janya (derived) raga of the 39th melakarta, Jhalavarali. Its arohanam is S G1 R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D1 P M2 G1 R1 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Varali?
Arohanam (ascending): S G1 R1 G1 M2 P D1 N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D1 P M2 G1 R1 S.
What are famous songs in Varali?
Well-known compositions include Seshachala Nayakam (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Ka Va Va (Papanasam Sivan).