Melakarta 28 · Bana chakra · M1 ★ concert raga
Harikambhoji
हरिकाम्भोजी
Harikambhoji is the 28th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2, the Western Mixolydian mode. It carries a mood of Shringara: beauty and longing; the air breathes.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Harikambhoji, 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, Harikambhoji is built from a major second, a major third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a minor seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2; in Hindustani sargam, S R G m P D n (the Khamaj thaat).
| Degree | Swara | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S | unison (1) |
| 2 | R2 | major second (M2) |
| 3 | G3 | major third (M3) |
| 4 | M1 | perfect fourth (P4) |
| 5 | P | perfect fifth (P5) |
| 6 | D2 | major sixth (M6) |
| 7 | N2 | minor seventh (m7) |
How Harikambhoji harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Harikambhoji 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 Dm minordominant
- VII F majordominant
- ii Am minorpredominant
- IV C majorpredominant
- vi Em minorcolour
- iii° Bdim diminishedcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Janya ragas of Harikambhoji
These child ragas are born from Harikambhoji by dropping notes or bending the path: Kambhoji, Mohanam, Khamas, Kedaragowla, Kuntalavarali, Suruti, Sahana, Yadukula Kambhoji, Balahamsa, Desh, Bahudari, Natakurinji, Sama, Navarasakannada, Tilang, Narayani, Eesamanohari, Nagaswaravali, Rageshri, Ravichandrika. 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.
Kambhojiकाम्भोजी
A monarch among janyas with roots in ancient texts; N3 enters only in its phrases.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs. Touches N3 in its phrases, outside the written path.
Mohanamमोहनम्
The beloved pentatonic; joy with no shadow.
Drops M1 and N2 from Harikambhoji. Hindustani cousin: Bhupali.
Khamasखमास्
The javali raga; in that lighter repertoire N3 slips in from outside.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs. Touches N3 in its phrases, outside the written path.
Kedaragowlaकेदारगौळ
Sister to Suruti, but expansive and slow-breathing.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Kuntalavaraliकुन्तलवराळी
No Ri and no Ga in either direction; the climb turns at Ni.
Drops R2 and G3 from Harikambhoji.
Surutiसुरुटि
Sister to Kedaragowla; the fall turns G3 P M1 before home.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Sahanaसहाना
Tender and pleading; every phrase leans on its gamaka.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Yadukula Kambhojiयदुकुलकाम्भोजि
Grave and settled; a raga that never hurries.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Balahamsaबालहंस
A young swan; the fall touches G3 only at the very end, through a turn at Ma.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Deshदेश
From the Hindustani Desh: N3 climbing, N2 falling.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji. Borrows N3 from outside Harikambhoji: a bhashanga raga. Hindustani cousin: Desh.
Bahudariबहुदारी
No Ri either way; Dha only on the way up.
Drops R2 from Harikambhoji.
Natakurinjiनाटकुरिञ्जि
Playful and folk-warm; the climb keeps circling back through Ni and Dha.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Samaसाम
No Ni in either direction; Ga only on the way down.
Drops N2 from Harikambhoji.
Navarasakannadaनवरसकन्नड
Leaps from Pa straight home going up, then fills in richly without touching Pa at all.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Tilangतिलंग
Climbs on the sharp seventh and comes down on the flat one; no Ri, no Dha.
Drops R2 and D2 from Harikambhoji. Borrows N3 from outside Harikambhoji: a bhashanga raga. Hindustani cousin: Tilang.
Narayaniनारायणी
Bright and devotional; no Ga either way.
Drops G3 from Harikambhoji.
Eesamanohariईशमनोहरी
Climbs straight through Harikambhoji, then bends M1 G3 near home.
Keeps all seven notes of Harikambhoji; only the path differs.
Nagaswaravaliनागस्वरावळी
Five notes with no Ri and no Ni.
Drops R2 and N2 from Harikambhoji.
Rageshriरागेश्री
Floats on Ga, Ma and Dha with no panchama to anchor it.
Drops P from Harikambhoji. Hindustani cousin: Rageshree.
Ravichandrikaरविचन्द्रिका
No Pa either way, and Ni only on the way down.
Drops P from Harikambhoji.
Music to learn in Harikambhoji
- Undedi Ramudokkadu · Tyagaraja
- Dinamani Vamsa · Tyagaraja
- Rama Nannu Brovara · 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.
- Rama Nannu Brovara · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala
- Dinamani Vamsa · Tyagaraja · Adi tala
In its janya ragas
- Venuganaloluni · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala · Kedaragowla
- Bhavanuta Na Hrdayamuna · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Mohanam
- Ee Vasudha · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Sahana
- Karunimpa · Tiruvottiyur Tyagayyar · Adi tala · Sahana
- Sri Venkatagirisam · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi tala · Suruti
- Gitarthamu · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Suruti
- Ento Prema · Pallavi Gopala Iyer · Adi tala · Suruti
- Rama Eva Daivatam · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala · Balahamsa
- Manasa Sancharare · Sadasiva Brahmendra · Adi tala · Sama
- Mudhadhaiyar Potri · Tiger Varadachariar · Rupaka tala · Bahudari
- Apaduruku Lonaitine · Pattabhiramayya · Adi tala · Khamas
- Apudu Manasu Nilucunade · Patnam Subramania Iyer · Rupaka tala · Khamas
- Budham Ashrayami · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Misra jhampa · Natakurinji
- Kalai Thooki Nindradum Deivame · Marimutha Pillai · Adi tala · Yadukula Kambhoji
- Taruni Ninnu Basi · Fiddle Ponnuswami Pillai · Adi tala · Kambhoji
- Viriboni Nipai Chala · Rudrapatnam Venkataramayya · Misra jhampa · Kedaragowla
- Entani Ne Delupudura · Subbarama Dikshitar · Rupaka tala · Khamas
- Kommaro Vani · Dharmapuri Subbarayar · Adi tala · Khamas
- Modi Jesevelara · Pattabhiramayya · Adi tala · Khamas
- Ninnukori · Ramanathapuram Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar · Adi tala · Mohanam
- Nagalingam Namami Satatam · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi tala · Mohanam
- Narimani Nikainadira · Dharmapuri Subbarayar · Adi tala · Khamas
- Niravadhi Sukhada · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Ravichandrika
- Shri Gananatham Bhajare · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Rupaka tala · Eesamanohari
- Swami Nan Undan Adimai · Papanasam Sivan · Adi tala · Natakurinji
- Tayakkam Innum Ennadi · Madurai R. Muralidharan · Adi tala · Rageshri
- Vaa Vaa Emmai Kaa Vaa Vela · Composer unknown · Adi tala · Mohanam
Questions about Harikambhoji
What is the Harikambhoji raga?
Harikambhoji is melakarta number 28 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2, which is the Western Mixolydian mode.
Is Harikambhoji the same as the Western Mixolydian mode?
Yes. Harikambhoji has exactly the same seven notes as the Mixolydian mode, so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are famous compositions in Harikambhoji?
Well-known pieces include Undedi Ramudokkadu (Tyagaraja), Dinamani Vamsa (Tyagaraja), Rama Nannu Brovara (Tyagaraja).
What are the janya ragas of Harikambhoji?
Its well-known child ragas include Kambhoji, Mohanam, Khamas, Kedaragowla, Kuntalavarali, Suruti, Sahana, Yadukula Kambhoji, Balahamsa, Desh, Bahudari, Natakurinji, Sama, Navarasakannada, Tilang, Narayani, Eesamanohari, Nagaswaravali, Rageshri, Ravichandrika.