Kamavardhani Explained

Kamavardhini

Kamavardhani (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 51st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also referred by the name Pantuvarāḷi,[1] although purists prefer to designate it as Kamavardhini. It literally means "that which increases desire".

This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the beginning of a concert. It is called Kāshirāmakriya in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school. The Hindustani music equivalent of Kamavardhini is the Poorvi thaat/Puriya Dhanashree.[2]

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 9th chakra Brahma. The mnemonic name is Brahma-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu mi pa dha nu. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

(the notes in this scale are shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, prathi madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham, kakali nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam – a rāgam that has all seven swaras (notes). This rāgam differs from the 15th melakarta rāgam Mayamalavagowla, which is the rāgam taught to a beginner in Carnatic music, only by the madhyamam. Kamavardhani is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Mayamalavagowla.

Janya rāgams

It has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with it.

Popular compositions

Film Songs

Language: Tamil

SongMovieComposerSinger
Amba ManamkanindhuSivakaviPapanasam SivanM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Yezhu Swarangalukul(Ragamalika with Sindhubairavi,khamboji)Apoorva RaagangalM. S. ViswanathanVani Jairam
Neerada NeramVaira Nenjam
Arpudha KalaidhanIdhaya NayaganDeva
Intha NimishamHelloHariharan, K. S. Chithra
Thenthoovum VasandhamVaidehi KalyanamMano, K. S. Chithra
Karmegam Oorgolam PogumKalamellam Un MadiyilChandraboseS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Devi DeviNaan Adimai IllaiVijay Anand
Rojavai ThaalattumNinaivellam NithyaIllayaraja
Theme Music (Violin Concert)Raja PaarvaiVarious
Kaadhal Ennum KaaviyamJikki
Piraye PirayePithamaganMadhu Balakrishnan
Om SivohamNaan KadavulVijay Prakash
Theme Music (BGM)Raja Paarvai-
Ninnaichcharan AdainthenBharathiBombay Jayashree
Yenna Varam VendumMano,Lekha, Sindhu Devi
Sree RamavaaraiChinmayi,Sakyath
Aadum Pambirukuthu(Ragam Panthuvarali touches)IllamP. Jayachandran
Enna Nadakkudhu SaamiMaamanithanMuthu Sirpy
Nalla Neram NeramAndha Oru NimidamS. Janaki
Vazhimel VizhiyaalArchanai Pookal
Nalam PaaduvenKanmaniye PesuRaveendran
Hai RamaRangeelaA. R. RahmanHariharan, Swarnalatha
Athini SithiniThenaliHariharan, Chitra Sivaraman, Kamal Haasan
Macha MachiniyeStarUnni Menon
Oh NenjamePaasakanalS. A. RajkumarK. J. Yesudas,Sunandha
Adi kadhal EnpathuEnnavaleHariharan
En Vanam NeethanaDhinamdhorumOviyanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam,Shenoy Balesh
Or Aayiram YaanaiNandhaYuvan Shankar RajaP. Unnikrishnan
Amma EndralleIllayaraja
Poovum MalarnthidaSwarnamukhiSwararajS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Kangal ThedutheyManathodu MazhaikalamKarthik RajaSadhana Sargam, Jassie Gift
Devathaiyai MannilJjunctionBharadwajSrinivas,Reshmi
Or MirugamParadesiG. V. Prakash KumarV. V. Prasanna, Pragathi Guruprasad
MarandhayeTeddyD. ImmanJonita Gandhi, Pradeep Kumar
Enge PonaiJeevaS. P. Balasubrahmanyamuruprasad]]
Holy sage Instrumental BGMMaan KarateAniruth

Related rāgams

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

Kamavardani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields Kanakangi (the 1st melakarta). 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 further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam on Kanakangi.

Notes and References

  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
  3. Web site: Carnatic Songs – engum nirainda paramporuLE (Pv).