| 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]
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.
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.
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amba Manamkanindhu | Sivakavi | Papanasam Sivan | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar |
| Yezhu Swarangalukul(Ragamalika with Sindhubairavi,khamboji) | Apoorva Raagangal | M. S. Viswanathan | Vani Jairam |
| Neerada Neram | Vaira Nenjam | ||
| Arpudha Kalaidhan | Idhaya Nayagan | Deva | |
| Intha Nimisham | Hello | Hariharan, K. S. Chithra | |
| Thenthoovum Vasandham | Vaidehi Kalyanam | Mano, K. S. Chithra | |
| Karmegam Oorgolam Pogum | Kalamellam Un Madiyil | Chandrabose | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Devi Devi | Naan Adimai Illai | Vijay Anand | |
| Rojavai Thaalattum | Ninaivellam Nithya | Illayaraja | |
| Theme Music (Violin Concert) | Raja Paarvai | Various | |
| Kaadhal Ennum Kaaviyam | Jikki | ||
| Piraye Piraye | Pithamagan | Madhu Balakrishnan | |
| Om Sivoham | Naan Kadavul | Vijay Prakash | |
| Theme Music (BGM) | Raja Paarvai | - | |
| Ninnaichcharan Adainthen | Bharathi | Bombay Jayashree | |
| Yenna Varam Vendum | Mano,Lekha, Sindhu Devi | ||
| Sree Ramavaarai | Chinmayi,Sakyath | ||
| Aadum Pambirukuthu(Ragam Panthuvarali touches) | Illam | P. Jayachandran | |
| Enna Nadakkudhu Saami | Maamanithan | Muthu Sirpy | |
| Nalla Neram Neram | Andha Oru Nimidam | S. Janaki | |
| Vazhimel Vizhiyaal | Archanai Pookal | ||
| Nalam Paaduven | Kanmaniye Pesu | Raveendran | |
| Hai Rama | Rangeela | A. R. Rahman | Hariharan, Swarnalatha |
| Athini Sithini | Thenali | Hariharan, Chitra Sivaraman, Kamal Haasan | |
| Macha Machiniye | Star | Unni Menon | |
| Oh Nenjame | Paasakanal | S. A. Rajkumar | K. J. Yesudas,Sunandha |
| Adi kadhal Enpathu | Ennavale | Hariharan | |
| En Vanam Neethana | Dhinamdhorum | Oviyan | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,Shenoy Balesh |
| Or Aayiram Yaanai | Nandha | Yuvan Shankar Raja | P. Unnikrishnan |
| Amma Endralle | Illayaraja | ||
| Poovum Malarnthida | Swarnamukhi | Swararaj | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha |
| Kangal Theduthey | Manathodu Mazhaikalam | Karthik Raja | Sadhana Sargam, Jassie Gift |
| Devathaiyai Mannil | Jjunction | Bharadwaj | Srinivas,Reshmi |
| Or Mirugam | Paradesi | G. V. Prakash Kumar | V. V. Prasanna, Pragathi Guruprasad |
| Marandhaye | Teddy | D. Imman | Jonita Gandhi, Pradeep Kumar |
| Enge Ponai | Jeeva | S. P. Balasubrahmanyamuruprasad]] | |
| Holy sage Instrumental BGM | Maan Karate | Aniruth |
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.