Melakarta 14 · Agni chakra · M1
Vakulabharanam
वकुलाभरणम्
Vakulabharanam is the 14th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N2 — the Western Phrygian dominant (harmonic minor mode 5).
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Vakulabharanam, recorded by musicians in the community and curated by Jason Zac. Every phrase carries the artist’s name and link — add your own voice to this raga.
The scale and its Western intervals
Reading up from Sa, Vakulabharanam is built from a minor second, a major third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S r G m P d n.
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R1 | minor second (m2) |
| 3 | G3 | major third (M3) |
| 4 | M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D1 | minor sixth (m6) |
| 7 | N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
How Vakulabharanam harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Vakulabharanam and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.
- I C majorhome
- vii Bbm minordominant
- v° Gdim diminisheddominant
- II Db majorpredominant
- iv Fm minorpredominant
- iii° Edim diminishedcolour
- VI+ Abaug augmentedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Music to learn in Vakulabharanam
Vakulabharanam is met most often as a parent scale for study and improvisation. Much of its living music flows through janya ragas; a good next step is to sing its scale slowly over a tanpura and explore its phrases in the 3D sphere.
Questions about Vakulabharanam
What is the Vakulabharanam raga?
Vakulabharanam is melakarta number 14 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N2, which is the Western Phrygian dominant (harmonic minor mode 5).
Is Vakulabharanam the same as the Western Phrygian dominant (harmonic minor mode 5)?
Yes. Vakulabharanam has exactly the same seven notes as the Phrygian dominant (harmonic minor mode 5), so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are the janya ragas of Vakulabharanam?
Vakulabharanam is heard mainly as a parent scale; much Carnatic repertoire lives in the janya ragas of other melakartas.