Sarasangi Explained
Sarasangi (pronounced sarasāngi) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 27th melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Sowrasena in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1] In Western music it is known as the Harmonic major scale.
Structure and Lakshana
It is the 3rd rāgam in the 5th chakra Bana. The mnemonic name is Bana-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gu ma pa dha ni. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
This rāgam uses the swaras chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kakali nishadham.
By definition, Sarasangi, a melakarta rāgam, is a sampurna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Latangi, which is the 63rd melakarta scale.
Janya rāgams
Sarasangi has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Kamala manohari and Nalinakanti are popular. See List of janya rāgams for all rāgams associated with Sarasangi.
Compositions
Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Sarasangi.
- Jaya jaya padmanabha by Swati Tirunal
- Sourasenesham vallisham by Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Nikela dayaradu by Ramaswami Sivan
- Paripaliso guru vadiraja by R. K. Padmanabha
- Vandeham govinda by M Balamuralikrishna
- "Tirupati malaiyurai Venkata vaa" by M. M. Dandapani Desigar
- "Sadaashivam upaasmahe" by Jayachaamarajendra Vodayar
Film Songs
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Paal Polave (Ragam Charukesi touches too) | Uyarndha Manithan | M. S. Viswanathan | P. Susheela (won National Award) |
| Adi Ennadi Rakkamma | Pattikada Pattanama | T. M. Soundararajan |
| Manithan Ellaam Therindhu Kondaan | Azhagu Nila | K. V. Mahadevan | Seerkazhi Govindarajan |
| Meenama Meenama | Rajadhi Raja | Illayaraja | Mano, K. S. Chitra |
| Ellorum Sollu Pattu | Marupadiyum | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| Endrendrum Aanandame | Kadal Meengal | Malaysia Vasudevan |
| Malligaye Malligaye | Periya Veetu Pannakkaran | K.J. Yesudas, K. S. Chitra |
| Muthu Muthu | K.J. Yesudas, S. Janaki |
| Maharajanodu | Sathi Leelavathi | P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chitra |
| Ammamma Unnai | Sadhu | K.J. Yesudas |
| Kokki Vaichchen (Folkish style) | Nattupura Pattu | Mano, Devi |
| Puthusu Puthusu | Manitha Jaathi | Gangai Amaran, S. Janaki |
| Oh Alagu Nilavu | My Dear Marthandan | Mano |
| Thaathanthana Kummikotti | Athisaya Piravi | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki |
| Idhayam Idhayam | Vidukathai | Deva | Krishnaraj, K. S. Chitra |
| Cu Cu Tara | Thayagam | K. S. Chithra,Malaysia Vasudevan |
| Sri Ranganatharukku | Kottai Mariamman | K. S. Chithra |
| Engengey (Shades of Charukesi in Pallavi) | Nerrukku Ner | Hariharan, Asha Bhosle |
| Kobama Enmel | Unnudan | Hariharan |
| Tamizha Tamizha | | A. R. Rahman |
| Chittukuruvi | Parasuram | Swarnalatha, Arjun and Sriram Parthasarathy |
| Jalali | Lal Salaam | A. R. Rahman |
| Kannatthula Vai | Captain | Sirpy | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Kannaana Kanney | Viswasam | D. Imman | Sid Sriram | |
Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Sarasangi's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, Dharmavati and Chakravakam. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Dharmavati.
Notes and References
- Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
