Melakarta 15 · Agni chakra · M1 ★ concert raga
Mayamalavagowla
मायामालवगौल
Mayamalavagowla is the 15th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3, the Western Double harmonic major. It carries a mood of Bhakti: devotion; a soft settling.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Mayamalavagowla, 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, Mayamalavagowla is built from a minor second, a major third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3; in Hindustani sargam, S r G m P d N (the Bhairav thaat).
| 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 | N3 | major seventh (M7) |
How Mayamalavagowla harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Mayamalavagowla and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.
- I G majorhome
- V♭5 D(b5) major flat fivedominant
- VIIsus2♭5 F#sus2(b5) suspended second flat fivedominant
- II Ab majorpredominant
- iv Cm minorpredominant
- iii Bm minorcolour
- VI+ Ebaug augmentedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Janya ragas of Mayamalavagowla
These child ragas are born from Mayamalavagowla by dropping notes or bending the path: Saveri, Gowla, Bauli, Gowlipantu, Malahari, Lalitha, Gowri, Jaganmohini, Megharanjani, Gurjari, Revagupti. Each card shows the three things that make a janya itself: how many notes it keeps, which way its road runs (any vakra turn is ringed in red), and how it glides between swaras. See how janya ragas work.
Saveriसावेरि
Same climb as Malahari, a fuller fall; pathos in the Ri.
Keeps all seven notes of Mayamalavagowla; only the path differs.
Gowlaगौळ
One of the five ghana ragas; the fall turns R1 G3 M1 R1 before home.
Drops D1 from Mayamalavagowla.
Bauliबौली
No madhyama at all, and Ni only on the way down.
Drops M1 from Mayamalavagowla.
Gowlipantuगौळिपन्तु
Climbs like Gowla; the fall circles M1 D1 M1 before it lands.
Keeps all seven notes of Mayamalavagowla; only the path differs.
Malahariमलहरि
Beginners sing their first geetams here, many by Purandara Dasa, right after the Mayamalavagowla exercises.
Drops N3 from Mayamalavagowla.
Lalithaललिता
No Pa in either direction.
Drops P from Mayamalavagowla.
Gowriगौरी
Gowla's climb with a straight, full fall.
Keeps all seven notes of Mayamalavagowla; only the path differs.
Jaganmohiniजगन्मोहिनी
Beguiling, as the name says; Ri waits for the descent.
Drops D1 from Mayamalavagowla.
Megharanjaniमेघरञ्जनी
Five notes with no Pa and no Dha.
Drops P and D1 from Mayamalavagowla.
Gurjariगुर्जरी
Mayamalavagowla's seven notes, set apart by the D1 N3 turn in the fall.
Keeps all seven notes of Mayamalavagowla; only the path differs.
Revaguptiरेवगुप्ति
Bauli without its descending Ni; five notes both ways.
Drops M1 and N3 from Mayamalavagowla.
Music to learn in Mayamalavagowla
- Tulasidala · Tyagaraja
- Merusamana · Tyagaraja
- Sri Nathadi Guruguho · Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Deva Deva Kalayami · Swati Tirunal · the raga in which every beginner sings the first sarali varisai
Notated to play along
Each opens in Stage mode on a real staff, with the sung syllables under the notes. Loop it, change Sa, and play or sing along.
- Mayatheetha Swaroopini · Thanjavur Ponnayya Pillai · Rupaka tala
- Tulasi Dalamulache · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala
- Deva Deva Kalayamithe · Swati Tirunal · Rupaka tala
- Jitamaya Malavagaulantargata · Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer · Adi tala
- Vidulaku Mrokkeda · Tyagaraja · Adi tala
- Sri Nathadi Guruguho · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi tala
In its janya ragas
- Sri Gananatha · Purandara Dasa · Rupaka tala · Malahari
- Kunda Gaura · Purandara Dasa · Rupaka tala · Malahari
- Keraya Neeranu · Purandara Dasa · Tisra triputa · Malahari
- Gunijanadinuta · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi tala · Gurjari
- Dudukugala · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Gowla
- Sobhillu Saptaswara · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala · Jaganmohini
- Hiranmayeem Lakshmeem · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Rupaka tala · Lalitha
- Sarasuda Ninne Kori · Kottavasal Venkatarama Iyer · Adi tala · Saveri
Questions about Mayamalavagowla
What is the Mayamalavagowla raga?
Mayamalavagowla is melakarta number 15 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3, which is the Western Double harmonic major.
Is Mayamalavagowla the same as the Western Double harmonic major?
Yes. Mayamalavagowla has exactly the same seven notes as the Double harmonic major, so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are famous compositions in Mayamalavagowla?
Well-known pieces include Tulasidala (Tyagaraja), Merusamana (Tyagaraja), Sri Nathadi Guruguho (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Deva Deva Kalayami (Swati Tirunal).
What are the janya ragas of Mayamalavagowla?
Its well-known child ragas include Saveri, Gowla, Bauli, Gowlipantu, Malahari, Lalitha, Gowri, Jaganmohini, Megharanjani, Gurjari, Revagupti.