Natabhairavi

Natabhairavi

Arohanam	S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S
Equivalent	Aeolian mode

Naṭabhairavi is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 20th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. It corresponds to the Natural minor scale of western music system.

Natabhairavi corresponds to the Asavari thaat of Hindustani music. In the Muthuswami Dikshitar school this rāgam is called Nārīrītigowla. Natabhairavi is known to be a rāgam that incites feelings of grandeur and devotion in the listeners.

Structure and Lakshana

Natabhairavi scale with shadjam at C

It is the 2nd rāgam in the 4th chakra Veda. The mnemonic name is Veda-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi ma pa dha ni. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on the notations used):

• ārohaṇa : S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂ Ṡ
• avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S

(this scale uses the notes chatushruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha daivatam, kaishiki nishadam)

It is a sampoorna rāgam - rāgam having all 7 swarams. It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Shanmukhapriya, which is the 56th melakarta.

Asampurna Melakarta

Nārīrītigowla is the 20th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same, but the scales have vakra prayoga (zig-zag usage of notes in the ascending and descending scale).

• ārohaṇa: S G₂ R₂ G₂ M₁ N₂ D₁ M₁ N₂ N₂ Ṡ
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₂ D₁ M₁ G₂ M₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S

Janya rāgams

Natabhairavi has a number of popular janya rāgams (derived scales) such as Bhairavi, Anandhabhairavi, Saramati, Jaunpuri, Hindolam (sometimes Hindolam is also associated as a Janya of Hanumatodi) and Jayanthasree. See List of janya rāgams for a full list of Natabhairavi's janya rāgams.

Popular compositions

śrī vallī devasenā pate is a popular composition in Natabhairavi, composed by Papanasam Sivan. Parulaseva by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar is another well known composition in this rāgam. Upacharamu jeseva, in janya ragam Bhairavi composed by Thyagaraja is also popular.

Muthuswami Dikshitar's composition śrī nīlotpalanāyike is set to Nārīrītigowla.

Film Songs

Language:Tamil

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Unai Allaal Oru	Raja Mukthi	C. R. Subbaraman	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Vinnodum Mugilodum	Pudhaiyal	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	C. S. Jayaraman, P. Suseela
Manithan Enbavan	Sumaithaangi		P. B. Sreenivas
Chinna Chinna Kannanukku	Vaazhkai Padagu
Anubhavam Pudhumai	Kadhalikka Neramillai		P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Unaku Matum Unaku Matum	Manapanthal		P. Suseela
Ninaikka Therindha	Anandha Jodhi
Ammamma Aadai	Vennira Aadai
Thendral Varum	Palum Pazhamum
Paalum Pazhamum			T. M. Soundararajan
Engalukum Kaalam Varum	Pasamalar		T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Varathiruparoo(Kuththu Vilakkeria)	Pachhai Vilakku
Aadavaralam	Karuppu Panam		L. R. Eswari
Poojaiku Vandha Malare	Paadha Kaanikkai		P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki
Podhigai Malai Uchiyiley	Thiruvilaiyadal	K. V. Mahadevan
Ondru Serndha Anbu	Makkalai Petra Magarasi		P. B. Sreenivas,Sarojini
Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal	Kaanchi Thalaivan		T. M. Soundararajan, P. Suseela
Mayakkamenna	Vasantha Maligai
Naan Paarthadhile	Anbe Vaa	M. S. Viswanathan
Oruvar Meethu	Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Budhan Yesu Gandhi	Chandhrodhayam		T. M. Soundararajan
Kadavul Thantha	Iru Malargal		P. Suseela, L. R. Eswari
Kaadhalin Pon Veedhiyil	Pookkari		T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki
Anbumalargale	Naalai Namadhe		T. M. Soundararajan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Kaatrukenna Velli	Avargal		S. Janaki
Kannan Manam Enna	Vasantha Raagam
Unnidam Mayangugiren	Then Sindhudhe Vaanam	V. Kumar	K. J. Yesudas
Yen Iniya Pon Nilavae	Moodu Pani	Ilaiyaraaja
Aarariroo	Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
Neramithu Neramithu	Rishi Moolam		T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Senthoora Poove	16 Vayathinile		S. Janaki
Putham Pudhu Kaalai	Alaigal Oivathillai
Kannan Vanthu	Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Ooru Sanam Thoongiruchu	Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu
Ilampani Thuli Vizhum Neram	Aaradhanai(1981 Movie)		Manjula Gururaj
Kodai Kaala Kaatre	Panneer Pushpangal		Malaysia Vasudevan
Kadavul Ullame	Anbulla Rajinikanth		Latha Rajinikanth & Chorus
Pesa koodathu	Adutha Varisu		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Rasathi Unnai	Vaidehi Kathirunthal		P. Jayachandran
En Jeevan Paduthu	Neethana Andha Kuyil		K. J. Yesudas(ver 1)S. Janaki(ver 2)
Pillai Nila	Neengal Kettavai		S. Janaki, K. J. Yesudas(Pathos)
Panivizhum Iravu	Mouna Ragam		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Sokkanukku Vaacha	Kaaval Geetham
Sangeetha Megam	Udaya Geetham		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Antha Nilava Thaan	Muthal Mariyathai		Ilaiyaraaja, K. S. Chitra
O Butterfly	Meera		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Asha Bhosle
Andhi Mazhai Megam	Nayakan		T. L. Maharajan, P. Susheela
Sorgathin Vasapadi	Unnai Solli Kutramillai		K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Oru Kiliyin	Poovizhi Vasalile
Maniyae Manikuyilae	Nadodi Thendral		Mano, S. Janaki
Kadhorum Lolakku(Asaveri Ragam)	Chinna Mapillai
Malaikovil Vasaliley(Asaveri Ragam)	Veera		Mano, Swarnalatha
Sollividu Velli Nilave	Amaidhi Padai
Vetri Vetri(Asaveri Ragam)	Kattumarakaran		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Irandum Ondrodu	Panakkaran
Aatthu Mettuley	Gramathu Athiyayam		Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Aasaiya Kathula	Johnny		S. P. Sailaja
En Vaanilae			Jency
Kaalai Nera Raagamey	Raasave Unnai Nambi		K. S. Chithra
Vaan Megam Poo Poovaai	Punnagai Mannan
Thenmadurai Vaigai Nadhi	Dharmathin Thalaivan		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela
Thendral Kaatre	Kumbakarai Thangaiah		Mano, S. Janaki
Muthirai Eppodhu	Uzhaippali		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Kavita Krishnamurthy
Suttum Sudar Vizhi	Siraichalai		M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra, Chorus
Malliga Mottu	Sakthivel		Arunmozhi, Swarnalatha
Nee Partha	Hey Ram		Hariharan, Asha Bhosle
Antha Naal	Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam		Vijay Yesudas, Shreya Ghoshal
Paadatha Themmangu	Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Minnalae	May Maadham	A. R. Rahman
Chandralekha	Thiruda Thiruda		Annupamaa, Suresh Peters
Kadhal Sadugudu	Alaipayuthey		S. P. B. Charan, Naveen
Porkalam Ange	Thenali		Srinivas, Gopika Poornima
New York Nagaram	Sillunu Oru Kaadhal		A. R. Rahman
Thalli Pogathey	Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada		Sid Sriram, Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Aparna Narayanan
Naan Un Alaginile	24		Arijit Singh, Chinmayi
Vennilavin Theril	Duet		K. J. Yesudas
Yen Ooru Madurapakkam	Vaasalile Oru Vennila	Deva
Enakenna Perandhava	Kizhakku Karai		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Othayadi Paadhayile	Aatha Un Koyilile		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Jikki
Chinna Chinna	Sendhoorapandi		Mano, Swarnalatha
Muthu Nagaye	Samundi		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Pattuvana Rosavam	Kanni Paruvathile	Shankar–Ganesh	Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Kadhal Vaibhogame	Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Gangai Amaran
Neeradi Vaa Thenrale	Mangai Oru Gangai	Laxmikant–Pyarelal	S. Janaki,Dinesh,Chorus
Valarum Valarum Nilavu	Paasamalargal	V. S. Narasimhan	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha Mohan
Ullam Ullam Inbathil	Kadhal Enum Nadhiyinile	Manoj Gyan	P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chithra
Enakoru Snegidhi	Priyamaanavale	S. A. Rajkumar	Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Marutha Azhagaro	Sundara Purushan	Sirpy	K. S. Chithra
Pudhu Uravu	Nila Pennae	Vidyasagar	K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela
Nilave Nilave	Nilaave Vaa		Vijay, Anuradha Sriram
Anbe Sivam	Anbe Sivam		Kamal Haasan, Karthik
Vaseegara	Minnale	Harris Jayaraj	Bombay Jayashree
Vaigasi Nilavae	Unnale Unnale		Haricharan, Madhushree
Vaarayo Vaarayo	Aadhavan		P. Unnikrishnan, Chinmayi, Megha
Mun Paniyaa	Nandha	Yuvan Shankar Raja	S. P. Balasubramaniam, Malgudi Subha
Thuli Thuli Mazhaiyai	Paiyaa		Haricharan, Tanvi Shah
Irava Pagala	Poovellam Kettuppar		Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan
Nilave Nilave Saregama	Periyanna	Bharani
Thirudiya Idhayathai Thiruppi	Paarvai Ondre Podhume		Harish Raghavendra, K. S. Chithra
Kadavul Thanda	Maayavi	Devi Sri Prasad	Kalpana, S. P. B. Charan
Akkam Pakkam	Kireedam	G. V. Prakash Kumar	Sadhana Sargam
Kaathodu Kaathanen	Jail		Dhanush,Aditi Rao Hydari
Oru Killi Oru Killi	Leelai	Satish Chakravarthy	Shreya Ghoshal, Satish Chakravarthy
Jilendru Oru Kalavaram			Satish Chakravarthy
Kaathalae Kaathalae	'96	Govind Vasantha	Chinmayi, Kalyani Menon, Govind Vasantha

Related rāgams

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

Natabhairavi's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 5 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Kalyani, Sankarabharanam, Hanumatodi, Kharaharapriya and Harikambhoji. For further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam of this rāgam refer Graha bhedam on Sankarabharanam.

Even though Natabhairavi has quite evenly spaced swara sthanas (pitch positions, notes) like the other 5 in this group, it has not found as much importance in concerts. One is likely to find Kalyani, Todi, Sankarabharanam and Karaharapriya as the main ragam in concerts, more often than Natabhairavi by a big count.

Except for madhyamam, all other swara prayoga(usage in practice) resemble Shanmukhapriya. Especially, when one uses the notes from panchamam(P) to gandharam(G₂) in ārohaṇa and vice versa in Avarohana, this ragam can be easily confused to be Shanmukhapriya while actually.