Created by Ser Amantio di Nicolao
Last edited August 28, 2021
Svadhya
ArohanamS R₁ M₁ P N₂ 
Avarohanam N₂ D₁ P M₁ R₁ S


Svadhya is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an audava Shadava rāgam . It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes).

It is said to evoke intense self-reflection to the listener and Karuṇa rasa (pathos).

Structure and Lakshana[edit | edit source]

Svadhya scale with shadjam at C, *D1 (D1 only in avarohanam)

(notes used in this scale are shuddha rishabham, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shuddha dhaivatham, kaisiki nishadham)

Svadhya is considered a janya rāgam of Ratnangi, the 2nd Melakarta rāgam. This Raga was created by composer Rajan Somasundaram.

Popular compositions[edit | edit source]

Here are some popular kritis composed in Svadhya.

Related rāgams[edit | edit source]

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Scale similarities[edit | edit source]

  • Revati ragam has similar aurohana but a different avarohana, especially the presence of shuddha dhaivatham makes Svadhya raga a complex one and lends a different color.[1]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S  M P  
    • Western: C D F G B C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:    P M  S
    • Western: C B A G F D C

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras