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Writer's pictureDr Radhakrishnan

EKA-KRITHI RAGAS: SWARARANJANI – JANYA OF MELA (29) RAGAM SANKARABHARANAM

Here is a very pleasing, but rare raga, "Swararanjani" (Suraranjani); the raga and the only composition known in this raga is "Raghunatha nannu", by Ramanathapuram (Poocchi) Srinivasa Iyengar. This raga is a janya of Mela (29) Dheera Sankarabharnam; the notes: S G3 P R2 M1 D2 S // S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

Ragapravaham gives different specifications under different melas.

Undr mela (20) ragam NaTabhairavi

S R G P D N S - S N D M P M G R S

Under mela (22) ragam Kharaharapriya

S R G M D N S - S N P M G M R S

Under mela (65) Kalyani ragam

S G M P N S - S N P M G S

Also, there is ‘Suraranjani’ mentioned seaparately under mela (36) ragam Chalanattai

S R G P N S - S N P G R S

On listening, this raga gives a feel of another Rare, but popular raga, ‘Kathanakuthuhalam’; though there is no much similarity in notes, both are of same origin, Sankarabharanam mela; also both are of zig-zag arrangement of notes. It is likely that Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar was inspired by his guru, Patnam Subramanya iyer (created Kathanakuthuhalam) in creating this raga. Surprisingly, in one of the publications, the author of the krithi, ‘Raghunatha nannu’ is wrongly attributed to Patnam Subramanya Iyer and in another, as Mysore Doraisamy Iyengar !

Lyrics: pallavi:- raghunAthA nannu nayamuga nI rakSincuTakidi samayamurA anupallavi:- agha jAlamella harinci bahu AdaraNa sEyu AdidEva charanam:- kanakAmbaradhara karuNAkara kamala bhavanuta kari moraliDaga kanikaramutO kAvalEdA shrI vanajAkSa shrInivAsa varada (There is another raga with the same name, janya of (22) Kharaharapriya - please do not confuse between)


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