raagawheel

Mela 8Netra chakraM1

Todi

formally Hanumatodi — the name that encodes 8

also known as Janatodi

The name is the number

Hanumatodi

Haha8nuna080 reversed8

Every mela name encodes its own number — how the katapayadi sutra works.

SSR1R1G2G2M1M1PPD1D1N2N2SS (upper octave)

SS (upper octave)N2N2D1D1PPM1M1G2G2R1R1SS

How to know it

Grave and deeply expressive — a heavyweight rakti raga in which nearly every note is carried on gamaka, prized for pathos and devotion; its rasa is Karuna, Bhakti.

Sa and Pa apart, every swara takes oscillation; the gandhara and dhaivata in particular are rendered as slow kampita rather than plain notes.

Janyas of Todi

Hear it in songs

  • Thaye Yashoda

    Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi · Adi

    The gopis' affectionate complaint to Yashoda about baby Krishna's pranks — one of the most popular Tamil kritis in any raga.

    YouTube Spotify

  • Koluvamaregada

    Thyagaraja · Adi

    One of Thyagaraja's several majestic Todi kritis, often taken up for elaborate niraval and swara.

    YouTube Spotify

  • Kaddanuvariki

    Thyagaraja · Adi

    YouTube Spotify

  • Ninne Nammi Naanu

    Syama Sastri · Misra Chapu

    Syama Sastri's Todi masterpiece addressed to Goddess Kamakshi.

    YouTube Spotify

  • Era Napai

    Patnam Subramania Iyer · Adi

    The standard Todi Adi-tala varnam with which many concerts and lessons in the raga begin.

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