Janya raga · child of melakarta 17, Suryakantam · vakra
Vasantha
वसन्ता
Vasantha is a janya (child) raga born from Suryakantam, the 17th melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-shadava. It carries a mood of Shringara: beauty and longing; the air breathes.
Vasanthaवसन्ता
Spring itself; no Pa, and Ri only on the way home.
Drops P from Suryakantam.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Vasantha climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S M1 G3 M1 D2 N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N3 D2 M1 G3 R1 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 6 descending (audava-shadava) |
| Hindustani sargam | S r G m D N |
Spring itself; no Pa, and Ri only on the way home.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas), ragasurabhi.com.
The notes of Vasantha, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R1 | minor second (m2) |
| G3 | major third (M3) |
| M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Vasantha
- Etla Dorakitivo, Tyagaraja
The parent: Suryakantam
Vasantha 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 Vasantha
What is the Vasantha raga?
Vasantha is a janya (derived) raga of the 17th melakarta, Suryakantam. Its arohanam is S M1 G3 M1 D2 N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D2 M1 G3 R1 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Vasantha?
Arohanam (ascending): S M1 G3 M1 D2 N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D2 M1 G3 R1 S.
What are famous songs in Vasantha?
Well-known compositions include Etla Dorakitivo (Tyagaraja).