Saramati

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Saramati
ArohanamS R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂ 
Avarohanam N₂ D₁ M₁ G₂ S

Saramati is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 20th melakarta scale Natabhairavi.[1] It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the descending scale.

Structure and Lakshana[edit]

Ascending scale with shadjam at C, which is same as Natabhairavi scale
Descending scale with shadjam at C, which is same as Hindolam scale

Saramati is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain panchamam or rishabham in the descending scale. It is a combination of the sampurna raga scale Natabhairavi and pentatonic scale Hindolam. It is an sampurna-audava rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic descending scale).[1][2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, sadharana gandharam, panchamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham in ascending scale, with panchamam and rishabham dropped in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.

Popular compositions[edit]

A few compositions have been set to Saramati rāgam.

Music composer Ilaiyaraaja has set the Tyagaraja krithi "Mari Mari Ninne" to this Raga in the movie Sindhu bhairavi, even though the actual krithi is in the raga Kambhoji.

Film Songs[edit]

Language:Tamil[edit]

Song Movie Composer Singer
Unai Allaal OIru Raja Mukthi C. R. Subburaman M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mari Mari Ninne Sindhu Bhairavi Ilaiyaraaja K. J. Yesudas
Paadariyen Padipariyen K. S. Chitra
Ettadukku Maligayil Aadi Viradham Shankar–Ganesh

Language:Kannada[edit]

Song Movie Composer Singer
Bharatha Bhooshira Upasane Vijaya Narasimha S Janaki
Yellellu Sangeetave Malaya Marutha Chi. Udayashankar K. J. Yesudas

Related rāgams[edit]

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

Scale similarities[edit]

  • Hindolam has a symmetric pentatonic scale, with the notes same as the descending scale of Saramati. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S G2 M1 D1 N2 S : S N2 D1 M1 G2 S

Notes[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras