Melakarta 29 · Bana chakra · M1 ★ concert raga
Dheerasankarabharanam
धीरशङ्कराभरणम्
Dheerasankarabharanam is the 29th melakarta raga. Its scale is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3, the Western Major scale (Ionian). It carries a mood of Veera: valour; sparks climb.
Hear it from musicians
Signature phrases for Dheerasankarabharanam, 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, Dheerasankarabharanam is built from a major second, a major third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a major sixth, a major seventh. In Carnatic terms that is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3; in Hindustani sargam, S R G m P D N (the Bilawal 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 | N3 | major seventh (M7) |
How Dheerasankarabharanam harmonizes
Stack thirds on each note of Dheerasankarabharanam 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 D majordominant
- vii° F#dim diminisheddominant
- ii Am minorpredominant
- IV C majorpredominant
- iii Bm minorcolour
- vi Em minorcolour
Learn the method in how to harmonize a raga.
Janya ragas of Dheerasankarabharanam
These child ragas are born from Dheerasankarabharanam by dropping notes or bending the path: Bilahari, Arabhi, Atana, Behag, Begada, Hamsadhwani, Kedaram, Devagandhari, Kannada, Nilambari, Shuddha Saveri, Poornachandrika, Garudadhwani, Kathanakuthuhalam, Janaranjani. 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.
Bilahariबिलहरि
Climbs like Mohanam, descends with all seven, and borrows N2 in its phrases.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs. Touches N2 in its phrases, outside the written path.
Arabhiआरभि
One of the five ghana ragas; bright going up, full and rounded coming down.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Atanaअठाणा
Heroic; tradition hears veeram, courage, in it.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Behagबेहाग
Carnatic Behag; M2 slips into its phrases from outside Shankarabharanam.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs. Touches M2 in its phrases, outside the written path.
Begadaबेगडा
Genial and courtly; the vakra ascent is its signature.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Hamsadhwaniहंसध्वनि
The swan call, created by Ramaswami Dikshitar and usually sung early in a concert; Vatapi Ganapatim lives here.
Drops M1 and D2 from Dheerasankarabharanam. Hindustani cousin: Hamsadhwani.
Kedaramकेदारम्
The climb opens on Ma and turns back to Ga; no Dha anywhere.
Drops D2 from Dheerasankarabharanam.
Devagandhariदेवगान्धारी
Shares its written scale with Arabhi; phrasing and gamaka keep them apart, and N2 enters its phrases.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs. Touches N2 in its phrases, outside the written path.
Kannadaकन्नड
Every turn bends back on itself; the fall circles G3 M1 twice.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Nilambariनीलाम्बरी
The climb turns back at Pa; N2 enters its phrases from outside.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs. Touches N2 in its phrases, outside the written path.
Shuddha Saveriशुद्धसावेरि
Pentatonic with no Ga, no Ni; open sky.
Drops G3 and N3 from Dheerasankarabharanam. Hindustani cousin: Durga.
Poornachandrikaपूर्णचन्द्रिका
A full moon of a raga; the climb turns back at Pa, the fall at Ma.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Garudadhwaniगरुडध्वनि
All seven going up; the fall drops Ni and Ma.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Kathanakuthuhalamकथनकुतूहलम्
Leaps up to N3, then drops back to G3 and Pa before Sa; Raghuvamsa Sudha lives here.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Janaranjaniजनरञ्जनी
A full climb with a turn at Pa; the fall skips Ni and Ga.
Keeps all seven notes of Dheerasankarabharanam; only the path differs.
Music to learn in Dheerasankarabharanam
- Akshaya Linga Vibho · Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Enduku Peddala · Tyagaraja
- Swararaga Sudharasa · Tyagaraja
- Manasu Swadhina · 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.
- Manasu Svadhinamaina · Tyagaraja · Misra chapu
- Bhakti Bhiksha · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala
- Sami Ninne Kori · Veena Kuppayyar · Adi tala
- Dhira Shankarabharana · Melaragamalika · Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer · Adi tala
- Parayo Sri Valli Devasenapati · Composer unknown · Adi tala
- Nadalola Hrdaya Siva Siva · Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji · Adi tala
- Sri Kamalambikaya Katakshitoham · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Rupaka tala
In its janya ragas
- Raghuvamsa Sudha · Patnam Subramania Iyer · Adi tala · Kathanakuthuhalam
- Vatapi Ganapatim · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi tala · Hamsadhwani
- Sadhinchane · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Arabhi
- Ganarajena Rakshitoham · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Misra chapu · Arabhi
- Sarasija Mukhiro · Pallavi Duraiswami Iyer · Adi tala · Arabhi
- Inta Chauka · Veena Kuppayyar · Adi tala · Bilahari
- Kalaharana Melara · Tyagaraja · Rupaka tala · Shuddha Saveri
- Pahimam Sri Rajarajeshwari · Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer · Adi tala · Janaranjani
- Sri Matrubhutam · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Misra chapu · Kannada
- Ananda Natana Prakasam · Muthuswami Dikshitar · Misra chapu · Kedaram
- Vinaradha Na Manavi · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Devagandhari
- Shrinivasa Dayanidhe · Patnam Subramania Iyer · Adi tala · Atana
- Inta Chalamu Jesite · Veena Kuppayyar · Adi tala · Begada
- Ayyan Narasingan Andam Kakka Avatharithan · Composer unknown · Adi tala · Bilahari
- Dayanidhe Mamava Sada · Syama Sastri · Adi tala · Begada
- Jalajakshi · Manambuchavadi Venkatasubbayyar · Adi tala · Hamsadhwani
- Palukavemi Na Daivama · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Poornachandrika
- Sri Raghukula Mandu Butti · Tyagaraja · Adi tala · Hamsadhwani
Questions about Dheerasankarabharanam
What is the Dheerasankarabharanam raga?
Dheerasankarabharanam is melakarta number 29 in the 72-raga system of Carnatic music. Its scale is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3, which is the Western Major scale (Ionian).
Is Dheerasankarabharanam the same as the Western Major scale (Ionian)?
Yes. Dheerasankarabharanam has exactly the same seven notes as the Major scale (Ionian), so the two are the same scale under different names.
What are famous compositions in Dheerasankarabharanam?
Well-known pieces include Akshaya Linga Vibho (Muthuswami Dikshitar), Enduku Peddala (Tyagaraja), Swararaga Sudharasa (Tyagaraja), Manasu Swadhina (Tyagaraja).
What are the janya ragas of Dheerasankarabharanam?
Its well-known child ragas include Bilahari, Arabhi, Atana, Behag, Begada, Hamsadhwani, Kedaram, Devagandhari, Kannada, Nilambari, Shuddha Saveri, Poornachandrika, Garudadhwani, Kathanakuthuhalam, Janaranjani.