Shuddha Saveri

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia

Shuddha Saveri
ArohanamS R₂ M₁ P D₂ 
Avarohanam D₂ P M₁ R₂ S

Shuddha Saveri or śuddha sāveri is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music) and Yakshagana music. It is an audava rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale)of the Melakarta ragam Dhīraśaṅkarābharaṇaṃ which is 29th Melakarta raga. In Hindustani music it is called Durga.[1][2] According to the school of Muthuswami Dikshitar, this rāgam is called Devakriya.[1][2] Karnataka Shuddha Saveri, a janya rāgam of 1st melakarta Kanakangi, is called Shuddha Saveri by the Dikshitar school.[2]

Structure and Lakshana[edit]

Shuddha Saveri scale with shadjam at C

Shuddha Saveri is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain gāndhāram or nishādam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

It is a scale that uses the following variants of the swaraschatushruti rishabham, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam and chatushruti dhaivatam.

Shuddha Saveri is considered a janya rāgam of Sankarabharanam, the 29th melakarta rāgam,[2] though it can be derived from other melakarta rāgams, Kharaharapriya, Gourimanohari or Harikambhoji, by dropping both gāndhāram and nishādam.

Popular compositions[edit]

Here are some popular kritis composed in Shuddha Saveri.[3]

Ānalekara, by Purandara Dasa which is set to this rāgam, is one of the first few geetams (very short compositions) taught to beginners.

Film Songs[edit]

Language:Tamil[edit]

Song Movie Composer Singer
Sithaye Ye Sithaye Sivakavi Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Vaadikkai Maranthathum Kalyana Parisu A. M. Rajah A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela
Manjal Mugam Karnan Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy P. Susheela
Aadiyile Perukkeduthu Aadivarum Radha (1973) M. S. Viswanathan
Swararaaga

(Ragamalika:ShuddhaSaveri,Shivaranjani)

Andha 7 Naatkal P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam
Poonthendral Kaatrraga Aval Oru Kavarimaan R. Ramanujam Malaysia V. Sarangapani, P. Susheela
Radha Radha Nee Enge Meendum Kokila Illayaraja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Kovilmani Osai Kizhakke Pogum Rail Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Kadhal Mayakam Pudhumai Penn P. Jayachandran,Sunandha
Rettai Killigal Ore Oru Gramathiley K.J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Malargalil Adum ilamai Kalyanaraman S. P. Sailaja
Asai Kiliyey Naan Solli Theertha Karaiyinile Mano
Sithakathi pookale Rajakumaran S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Nattu Vacha Roja Aranmanai Kili P. Susheela
Manamagale Manamagale Thevar Magan Minmini, Swarnalatha,Sindhuja
Sandiyare Sandiyare Virumaandi Shreya Ghoshal
Manasaoram Ayyan Sriram Parthasarathy, Sadhana Sargam
Maanada Kodi Muthal Vasantham S. Janaki
Unakagave Naan Uyir Vazhigiren Rasigan Oru Rasigai Raveendran
En uyir Thozhiye Kangalal Kaidhu Sei A. R. Rahman Unni Menon, Chinmayi
Sollitharavaa Sollitharavaa Majaa Vidyasagar Madhu Balakrishnan, Sadhana Sargam
Athikaalaiyil Sevalai Nee Varuvai Ena S. A. Rajkumar P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha
Nadhiyoram Alexander Karthik Raja P. Unnikrishnan, Bhavatharini
Un Perai Sonnale Dumm Dumm Dumm P. Unnikrishnan, Sadhana Sargam
Garuda Garuda Natpukkaga Deva Krishnaraj, Sujatha
O Maha Zeeya Thamizh Padam Kannan Hariharan, Shweta

Related rāgams[edit]

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

Graha bhedam[edit]

Shuddha Saveri's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 4 other major pentatonic rāgams, namely, Mohanam, Hindolam, Madhyamavati and Udayaravichandrika (also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi). Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. See Graha bhedam on Mohanam for more details and illustration of this concept.

Scale similarities[edit]

  • Sālaga Bhairavi is a rāgam which has the ascending scale of Shuddha Saveri and descending scale of Kharaharapriya. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 M1 P D2 S : S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S
  • Yadhukula Kambhoji is a rāgam which has the ascending scale of Shuddha Saveri and descending scale of Harikambhoji. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 M1 P D2 S : S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
  • Ārabhi is a rāgam which has the ascending scale of Shuddha Saveri and descending scale of Sankarabharanam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 M1 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
  • Devagāndhāri is a rāgam which has the ascending scale of Shuddha Saveri and descending scale of Shankarabharanam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 M1 P D2 S : S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S (there are differences in intonation, swara phrases, prayoga, bhava and rasa between this rāgam and Ārabhi, though scale notation in simple terms are same)
  • Janaranjani is a rāgam which has the ascending scale of Shankarabharanam and descending scale of Shuddha Saveri. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 P S : S D2 P M1 R2 S
  • Karnataka Shuddha Saveri of Dikshitar school has Shuddha Rishabham in place of Chatushruti Rishabham and Shuddha Dhaivatam in place of Chatushruti Dhaivatam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R1 M1 P D1 S : S D1 P M1 R1 S.

Notes[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  3. "Joyful Suddha Saveri".