Melakarta 22 · Veda chakra · M1 ★ concert raga
Kharaharapriya
खरहरप्रिया
Kharaharapriya is the 22nd melakarta raga. Its scale is S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2, the Western Dorian mode. It carries a mood of Shanta: stillness; the air barely moves.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Kharaharapriya, 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, Kharaharapriya is built from a major second, a minor third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S R g m P D n (the Kafi thaat).
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R2 | major second (M2) |
| 3 | G2 | minor third (m3) |
| 4 | M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| 7 | N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
How Kharaharapriya harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Kharaharapriya and these chords appear. Home is the chord on Sa; the chord on Pa is the dominant that pulls back to it.
- i Gm minorhome
- v Dm minordominant
- VII F majordominant
- ii Am minorpredominant
- IV C majorpredominant
- III Bb majorcolour
- vi° Edim diminishedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Janya ragas of Kharaharapriya
These child ragas are born from Kharaharapriya by dropping notes or bending the path: Madhyamavati, Mukhari, Kapi, Abhogi, Huseni, Darbar, Devamanohari, Manirangu, Bageshri, Sri, Sriranjani, Abheri, Ritigowla, Shivaranjani, Nayaki, Kannadagowla, Karnaranjani, Salagabhairavi, Jayanthasena, Andolika, Kanada, Suddha Dhanyasi, Brindavana Saranga. 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.
Madhyamavatiमध्यमावती
The auspicious close; concerts end in its calm.
Drops G2 and D2 from Kharaharapriya. Hindustani cousin: Madhumad Sarang.
Mukhariमुखारी
The raga of lament; the descent sinks through D1.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya. Borrows D1 from outside Kharaharapriya: a bhashanga raga.
Kapiकापी
Two Nis and a borrowed brightness; G3 also slips into its phrases.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya. Borrows N3 from outside Kharaharapriya: a bhashanga raga.
Abhogiआभोगि
Pentatonic without Pa or Ni; soft inward light.
Drops P and N2 from Kharaharapriya. Hindustani cousin: Abhogi Kanada.
Huseniहुसेनी
Gentle and folk-tinged; the zigzag Ni-Dha-Ni before the upper Sa is the raga.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya. Borrows D1 from outside Kharaharapriya: a bhashanga raga.
Darbarदरबार
Courtly and grand; the fall circles back to Sa, and its G2 is sung twice over (held here as one step).
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Devamanohariदेवमनोहरी
No Ga at all; the fall turns N2 D2 N2 before Pa.
Drops G2 from Kharaharapriya.
Maniranguमणिरङ्गु
Madhyamavati going up; the fall adds G2 just before home.
Drops D2 from Kharaharapriya.
Bageshriबागेश्री
No Ri or Pa going up; the fall bends back through Pa and Ma.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Sriश्री
One of the five ghana ragas; a vakra fall that circles before it lands. Endaro Mahanubhavulu lives here.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Sriranjaniश्रीरञ्जनी
Six swaras, Pa left out; bright and quick to smile.
Drops P from Kharaharapriya.
Abheriआभेरी
Warm and pleading; the older form, still sung in Dikshitar's kritis, took D1 in the fall.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs. Hindustani cousin: Bhimpalasi.
Ritigowlaरीतिगौळ
All curves, no straight lines; the climb ends on a Ni sung twice over (held here as one step).
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Shivaranjaniशिवरञ्जनी
Mohanam with a shadowed third; moonlit ache.
Drops M1 and N2 from Kharaharapriya. Hindustani cousin: Shivranjani.
Nayakiनायकी
Darbar's sister; the climb turns at Ni and comes back to Pa.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Kannadagowlaकन्नडगौळ
No Dha going up, no Ri coming down.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Karnaranjaniकर्णरञ्जनी
The climb turns back to G2 before Pa; Ni waits for the fall.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Salagabhairaviसालगभैरवी
Shuddha Saveri's climb with Kharaharapriya's full fall.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Jayanthasenaजयन्तसेना
No Ri either way; Ni only on the way down.
Drops R2 from Kharaharapriya.
Andolikaआन्दोलिका
A swinging climb without Ga or Dha; the fall trades Pa for D2.
Drops G2 from Kharaharapriya.
Kanadaकानडा
The climb leaps R2 to Pa and falls back to G2; the descent turns G2 M1 R2.
Keeps all seven notes of Kharaharapriya; only the path differs.
Suddha Dhanyasiशुद्धधन्यासी
Hindolam with Pa in place of Dha; also called Udayaravichandrika.
Drops R2 and D2 from Kharaharapriya. Hindustani cousin: Dhani.
Brindavana Sarangaबृन्दावनसारङ्ग
Bhashanga: the climb takes N3, the fall N2, and Ga appears only in the last turn.
Drops D2 from Kharaharapriya. Borrows N3 from outside Kharaharapriya: a bhashanga raga.
Music to learn in Kharaharapriya
- Chakkani Raja Margamu · Tyagaraja · the most elaborate kriti in the raga
- Rama Nee Samanamevaru · Tyagaraja
- Pakkala Nilabadi · Tyagaraja
- Mitri Bhagyame · Tyagaraja
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.
- Chakkani Raja · Tyagaraja · Adi tala
- Pakkala Nilabadi · Tyagaraja · Misra chapu
- Kharaharapriyam Alokya · Melaragamalika · Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer · Adi tala
In its janya ragas
- Endaro Mahanubhavulu · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Sri
- Nannu Brova Nikinta · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Abhogi
- Sri Lakshmi Varaham · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi tala · Abhogi
- Chalamela Jesevura · Tiruvottiyur Tyagayyar · Adi tala · Darbar
- Dharmasamvardhani · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Rupaka tala · Madhyamavati
- Saraguna Nannela · Tiruvottiyur Tyagayyar · Adi tala · Madhyamavati
- Janani Ninnuvina · Subbaraya Sastri · Misra chapu · Ritigowla
- Sri Varalakshmi Namastubhyam · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Rupaka tala · Sri
- Sami Ninne Koriyunnanu · Karur Devudu Iyer · Adi tala · Sri
- Nagumomu · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Abheri
- Sevikka Vendum Ayya · Muthu Thandavar · Adi tala · Andolika
- Padavi Ni Sadbhakti · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Salagabhairavi
- Vinatasuta Vahana · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Jayanthasena
- Subrahmanyena Rakshitoham · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi tala · Suddha Dhanyasi
- Kanugonu Saukhyamu · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala · Nayaki
- Evvari Bodhana · Patnam Subramania Iyer · Adi tala · Abhogi
- Ksheenamai Tiruga Janminchu · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Mukhari
- Maru Balka Kunnavemira · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Sriranjani
- Sabhapatikku Veru Deivam · Gopalakrishna Bharati · Rupaka tala · Abhogi
- Shri Kalahastisha · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Misra jhampa · Huseni
- Sri Kamalambike Sive Pahi Mam · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Khanda eka · Sri
- Shri Mahaganapate · N. S. Ramachandran · Khanda chapu · Abhogi
- Sukhi Evvaro · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Kanada
- Vinayakuni Valenu Brovave · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Madhyamavati
Questions about Kharaharapriya
What is the Kharaharapriya raga?
Kharaharapriya is melakarta number 22 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2, which is the Western Dorian mode.
Is Kharaharapriya the same as the Western Dorian mode?
Yes. Kharaharapriya has exactly the same seven notes as the Dorian mode, so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are famous compositions in Kharaharapriya?
Well-known pieces include Chakkani Raja Margamu (Tyagaraja), Rama Nee Samanamevaru (Tyagaraja), Pakkala Nilabadi (Tyagaraja), Mitri Bhagyame (Tyagaraja).
What are the janya ragas of Kharaharapriya?
Its well-known child ragas include Madhyamavati, Mukhari, Kapi, Abhogi, Huseni, Darbar, Devamanohari, Manirangu, Bageshri, Sri, Sriranjani, Abheri, Ritigowla, Shivaranjani, Nayaki, Kannadagowla, Karnaranjani, Salagabhairavi, Jayanthasena, Andolika, Kanada, Suddha Dhanyasi, Brindavana Saranga.