Māyāmāḷavagauḷa

The very first raaga every Carnatic student learns (the sarali varisai exercises): calm, morning-fresh and devotional.

serene, devotional; morning bhakti and freshness

Māyāmāḷavagauḷa is a sampurna (seven-note) raaga in the Carnatic tradition.

in the raaga jeeva (life note) nyasa (resting note)

or tap any lit note to hear it

arohana / ascending

S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S

avarohana / descending

S N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S

How to hear it

Life notes / jeeva: G (antara gandhara, G3) and N (kakali nishada, N3).
Resting notes / nyasa: R (shuddha rishabha R1), M (shuddha madhyama M1) and D (shuddha dhaivata D1). Amsa swaras G and P; graha swaras S, G, D, N.
Signature phrases / prayoga: Admits janta swaras and dhatu (dattu) swara prayogas in both quick and slow tempo. Representative sancara: srgmpdnS, gmpdnSRS, SndpdnS, SndnSRGR, GMGRS, Sndpmg, gmpdm grs, sndn s, gmddpmgrsn, srgmpddpm.
Ornament / gamaka: A sarva-svara-gamaka-varika rakti raga, all seven notes subject to gamaka. Features all forms of janta, dhatu (dattu) and pratyahata gamakas. Characteristically the gandhara is oscillated (M,G M,G M,G) while the madhyama is held steady, the reverse of the G-M treatment in Shankarabharana.

Corresponds to Hindustani Bhairav (equivalent, not a Carnatic confusion)

◐ Draft: the reference facts on this page are compiled from public sources and are pending review by a musician. Corrections welcome via GitHub.