Janya raga · child of melakarta 23, Gourimanohari
Velavali
वेलावली
Velavali is a janya (child) raga born from Gourimanohari, the 23rd melakarta. It is audava (pentatonic) in ascent, classified audava-sampurna. It carries a mood of Bhakti: devotion; a soft settling.
Velavaliवेलावली
Rare and archaic; the climb skips Ri and Pa, the fall sings all seven.
Keeps all seven notes of Gourimanohari; only the path differs.
Arohanam and avarohanam
Velavali climbs and falls along these paths:
| Arohanam (up) | S G2 M1 D2 N3 S' |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam (down) | S' N3 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S |
| Notes | 5 ascending, 7 descending (audava-sampurna) |
| Hindustani sargam | S R g m P D N |
Rare and archaic; the climb skips Ri and Pa, the fall sings all seven.
Parent and paths checked against karnatik.com, Wikipedia (List of Janya ragas).
The notes of Velavali, as Western intervals
| Swara | Interval above Sa |
|---|---|
| S | unison (1) |
| R2 | major second (M2) |
| G2 | minor third (m3) |
| M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| N3 | major seventh (M7) |
See how every swara becomes an interval in melakarta and Western music.
Songs to learn in Velavali
- Kaumari Gauri Velavali, Muthuswami Dikshitar
The parent: Gourimanohari
Velavali keeps the tuning of its parent Gourimanohari but walks its own road. To see the full seven-note scale it is drawn from, its chords and its other children, read the Gourimanohari guide, or learn how janya ragas work in general.
Questions about Velavali
What is the Velavali raga?
Velavali is a janya (derived) raga of the 23rd melakarta, Gourimanohari. Its arohanam is S G2 M1 D2 N3 S' and its avarohanam is S' N3 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are the arohanam and avarohanam of Velavali?
Arohanam (ascending): S G2 M1 D2 N3 S'. Avarohanam (descending): S' N3 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S.
What are famous songs in Velavali?
Well-known compositions include Kaumari Gauri Velavali (Muthuswami Dikshitar).