raagawheel

Janya of mela 20Natabhairavi

Bhairavi

SSR2R2G2G2M1M1PPD2D2N2N2SS (upper octave)

SS (upper octave)N2N2D1D1PPM1M1G2G2R2R2SS

Characteristic phrases

SSG2G2R2R2G2G2M1M1PPD2D2N2N2SS (upper octave)

Many schools sing a vakra ascent touching Ga before Ri.

How to know it

Sampurna–Sampurna · Bhashanga

Jeeva swaras — the life notes:G2G2N2N2

A grand, ancient rakti raga of deep pathos and majesty — a mainstay for the central heavyweight piece of a concert; its rasa is karuna, bhakti.

The sadharana gandharam and kaisiki nishadam are heavily oscillated; the raga lives in its gamakas far more than in its bare scale.

Anya (foreign) swaras:D2D2Parent mela 20 carries suddha dhaivatam (D1); Bhairavi takes chatusruti dhaivatam (D2) in the ascent and reverts to D1 in the descent — the two dhaivatams are what make it bhashanga.

Family

Parent · Mela 20Natabhairavi

Sibling janyas of Natabhairavi

Hear it in songs

  • Viriboni

    Pacchimiriyam Adiyappayya · Ata

    THE Bhairavi ata tala varnam — for generations the standard concert opener and a rite of passage for students.

    YouTube Spotify

  • Kamakshi Amba

    Syama Sastri · Misra Chapu

    Strictly a swarajati, not a kriti — one of Syama Sastri's celebrated three, and the most monumental composition in Bhairavi.

    YouTube Spotify

  • Upacharamu Jesevaru

    Thyagaraja · Rupakam

    YouTube Spotify

  • Balagopala

    Muthuswami Dikshitar · Adi

    YouTube Spotify