Shubhapantuvarali Explained

Shubhapantuvarali

Shubhapantuvarali (pronounced, meaning the auspicious moon) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 45th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1] [2] Todi (thaat) is the equivalent in Hindustani music. Being sad in tone, it is usually used for sad songs by musicians.

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 8th chakra Vasu. The mnemonic name is Vasu-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gi 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):

This scale uses the notes shuddha rishabham, sadharana gandharam, prati madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kakali nishadham. As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Dhenuka, which is the 9th melakarta scale.

Janya rāgams

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

Compositions

Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Shubhapantuvarali.

Film Songs

Language: Tamil

SongMovieComposerSinger
Enge MaraindhanayoAmara DeepamG. N. BalasubramaniamM. L. Vasanthakumari
Vanga KadalinMelmaruvathur ArpudhangalK. V. MahadevanVani Jairam,S. P. Sailaja
Kaala MagalAnandha JodhiViswanathan–RamamoorthyP. Susheela
Unnai Naan SanthithaenAayirathil Oruvan
Indha NaadagamPalum Pazhamum
Oru KootilEngirundho VandhanS. P. Balasubrahmanyam,K. S. Chitra
Kaaviya Mullai Kaneer PookalShankar-GaneshS. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Manathil Oru PaattuManathile Oru PaattuIlayagangai
Vaigaraiyil VaigaikaraiyilPayanangal MudivathillaiIllayaraja
Engey NimmathiNadigan
KandupudichenGuru Sishyan
Theerthakkarai OrathileyTheertha Karaiyinile
Ayiram ThamaraiAlaigal OivathillaiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Azhakindran MadhavanSri RaghavendrarK.J. Yesudas, Malaysia Vasudevan
Moonu Mudichaala Muttala AanenAmman Kovil KizhakaleMalaysia Vasudevan
Ithukkuthana Un Mela AasaipattenUllam Kavarntha Kalvan
Ennai Nee PadatheMaragatha VeenaiS. Janaki
Unnai Nambi ValgirenThambi Durai
Prabho VenkatesaEzhumalayan MagimaiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Kanavugaley KanavugaleyAnanda RagamK. J. Yesudas
Iruhi Kidakkum PaaraiPuthupatti Ponnuthaye
Poiyindri MeiyyoduSaranam AyyappaChandrabose
Vethala Madichi Kodukka AasaiyaPaatti Sollai ThattatheS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Aalamara KilaiyinilaeKannammaS. A. RajkumarSwarnalatha

Language: Malayalam

SongMovieComposerSinger
Rama Katha GanalayamBharathamRaveendranYesudas
Ore Kadal (All Songs)Ore KadalOuseppachan

Related rāgams

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

Shubhapantuvarali's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields a melakarta rāgam, namely, Chalanata. 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 Chalanata.

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