Arabhi
Janya raga of Carnatic music
title: "Arabhi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["janya-ragas"] description: "Janya raga of Carnatic music" topic_path: "general/janya-ragas" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabhi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Janya raga of Carnatic music ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox ragam"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Arabhi |
| arohanam | |
| avarohanam | |
| :: |
| name = Arabhi | synonym = | image_name = | image_alt = | mela = | chakra = | type = | arohanam = | avarohanam = | jeeva = | chhaya = | nyasa = | vishesha = | equivalent = | similar = Arabhi or Aarabhi (pronounced ārabhi) is a ragam (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is a Janya raga (derived scale), whose Melakarta raga (parent scale, also known as janaka) is Shankarabharanam, 29th in the 72 Melakarta raga system. It is a combination of the pentatonic scale Shuddha Saveri (or Durga in Hindustani Music) and the sampurna raga scale Shankarabharanam.
Arabhi is a raga that dates back to 7 AD. Originally, it was called as pazhanthakkam in Ancient Tamil music. A very auspicious ragam that emanates Veera rasa (valour), Arabhi is one of the five Ghana ragams that shine with special brilliance when Thanam is played on Veena.
Structure and Lakshana
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/ShuddhaSaveri_scale.svg" caption="Ascending scale with Shadjam at C"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Shankarabharanam_scale.svg" caption="Descending scale with Shadjam at C"] ::
Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
Arabhi raga is an Owdava-sampoorna raga meaning, 5 swaras occur in the arohana (so it is called Owdava) and in avarohana all swaras occur (so sampoorna).
It is a raga without much gamakas and frequency variations, relying instead on flat notes. The important point is the swara "ga" always comes very close to "ma" so when we sing the phrase "ma ga ri" it sounds like "ma ma ri". Likewise the swara "ni" always comes very close to the swara "sa" hence when we sing the phrase "sa ni da" it sounds like "sa sa da".
The closest raga to this one is Devagandhari. There are few aspects which make Arabhi different (though both share the same ascending and desce
- In Arabhi the swara "ga" is close to "ma" but in Devagandhari it is not the same.
- The swara "ri" is not fluctuated in Arabhi but it is given "asaivu" in Devagandhari
- The phrase "pa ma da sa" should not be sung in Arabhi, as it is exclusive for Devagandhari
- Devagandhari is sung with gamakas and vilambita kala prayogas (usages with elongated notes)
- Devagandhari is sung with deergha gandharam (elongated G3)
Arabhi raga is a very energetic and it lends itself to creativity in brigas (fast-paced swara usages) more than gamakas.
Popular Compositions
The 3rd of Pancharatna Kritis (five gems of compositions), Sadhinchanaeby Saint Thyagaraja is a famous composition set in Arabhi raga. Here we can note that Thyagaraja uses phrases like "sa sa da" in the charanam although there are phrases like "sa ni da" also.
Here are some more compositions set to Arabhi. ::data[format=table]
| Type | Composition | Composer | Talam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geetam | Rere Sree Ramachandra | Paidala Gurumurti Sastri | Tisra Triputa |
| Varnam | Sarasija Mukhiro | Pallavi Doraiswamy Iyer | Adi |
| Varnam | Annamae Aravaa | Tiger Varadachariar | Adi |
| Varnam | Amba Gauri | Gowri Rukmini Bayi(Rukminibhai Tamburatti) | Tisra Triputa |
| Varnam | Valachiyunna | Veena Kuppayyar | Khanda Ata |
| Kriti | Adidano Ranga (2nd Navaratna Malike) | Purandara Dasa | Adi |
| Kriti | Lalisidalu Magana | Purandara Dasa | Adi |
| Kriti | Dangurava Sari | Purandara Dasa | Adi |
| Kriti | Gubbiyalo Gubbiyalo | Vadiraja Tirtha | Adi |
| Kriti | Neela Lohita Damaruga | Jagannatha Dasa | Adi |
| Kriti | Mantralayadolu Rajipa | Kamalesha Vittala Dasu | Adi |
| Kriti | Dachuko Nee Padalaku | Annamacharya | Adi |
| Kriti | Saadinchane O Manasa (3rd Pancharatnam) | Thyagaraja | Adi |
| Kriti | Chaala kallalaadu | Thyagaraja | Adi |
| Kriti | O Rajeevaksha | Thyagaraja | Misra Chapu |
| Kriti | Joothamurare | Thyagaraja | Rupakam |
| Kriti | Nada sudha rasam | Thyagaraja | Rupakam |
| Kriti | O Rama O Rama | Thyagaraja | Adi |
| Kriti | Patiki Mangala | Thyagaraja | Adi |
| Kriti | Na Moralanu Vini | Thyagaraja | Adi |
| Kriti | Sundari Ninnu Varnimpa | Thyagaraja | Misra Chapu |
| Kriti | Pranavakaram Siddhi Vinayakam | Ootukadu Venkata Kavi | Adi |
| Kriti | Sakala Loka Nayike Twam Eva Sharanam | Ootukadu Venkata Kavi | Adi |
| Kriti | Idhuve Enakku Laksham Koti | Ootukadu Venkata Kavi | Adi |
| Kriti | Oran Oruvan | Ootukadu Venkata Kavi | Adi |
| Kriti | Maragatha Manimaya | Ootukadu Venkata Kavi | Adi |
| Kriti | Ganarajena rakshitoham | Muthuswamy Dikshitar | Misra Chapu |
| Kriti | Shri Saraswati namostute | Muthuswami Dikshitar | Rupakam |
| Kriti | Shwetaranyeshwaram | Muthuswami Dikshitar | Adi |
| Kriti | Akilandeswarayai Namaste | Muthuswami Dikshitar | Adi |
| Kriti | Adipurishwaram | Muthuswami Dikshitar | Adi |
| Kriti | Marakoti koti lavanya | Muthuswami Dikshitar | Jhampa |
| Kriti | Gowrishaya Namaste | Muthuswami Dikshitar | Triputa |
| Kriti | Palayashumam Paradevate | Syama Sastri | Triputa |
| Kriti | Paahi Parvata Nandini (Navarathri krithi-9th day) | Swathi Thirunal | Adi |
| Kriti | Vande Maheshwaram | Swathi Thirunal | Misra Chapu |
| Kriti | Narasimha Mamava | Swathi Thirunal | Khanda Chapu |
| Kriti | Shri Ramana Vibho | Swathi Thirunal | Adi |
| Kriti | Padmanabha Pahi Padma Vilochana | Swathi Thirunal | Adi |
| Kriti | Madhu Kaitabha | Muthiah Bhagavathar | Adi |
| Kriti | Rave Puruhutikamba | Maddirala Venkataraya Kavi | Misra Chapu |
| Kriti | Maravanu ne Ninnu | G. N. Balasubramaniam | Rupakam |
| Kriti | Durga Lakshmi Saraswati | Papanasam Sivan | Adi |
| Kriti | Ayyappanai Panivom | Papanasam Sivan | Adi |
| Kriti | Nilakantha Nityananda | Nilakanta Sivan | Adi |
| Kriti | Sri Sakala Ganadhipa(same tune as Sri Ramana Vibho by Swathi Thirunal) | Dr M. Balamuralikrishna | Adi |
| Kriti | Mahadeva Sutam | Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna | Adi |
| Kriti | Maha Balavanta Shri Hanumanta | Kalyani Varadarajan | Adi |
| :: |
The Popular Onam composition "Maveli Naadu Vaneedum Kaalam" is popularized, and taught in this raga.
Film Songs
Language:[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
::data[format=table]
Title Song
::data[format=table]
| Song | Tv Serial | Composer | Singer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aadugiran Kannan | Adugiran Kannan | C. Sathya | Srinivas |
| :: |
Language: [[Malayalam]]
::data[format=table]
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navakabhishekam Kazhinju | Guruvayur Kesavan | G. Devarajan | K J Yesudas |
| Tiruvona Pularithan | |||
| Shreekovil Nadathurannu | |||
| :: |
Language: [[Telugu Language|Telugu]]
::data[format=table]
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singers |
|---|---|---|---|
| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1spEcCmZiE | title=Seetharama Kalyanam-Full Album:; N.T.Rama Rao:; B.SarojaDevi :;Galipenchala Narasimha Rao | author=Saregama Telugu | website=youtube(videostreaming Clip starts@4min50sec &ends after 98sec) |
| Tapamu Phalinchina Shubhavela | Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu | Pendyala (composer) | Ghantasala (musician) |
| Sri Kamini Kamitakara | Panduranga Mahatyam | T. V. Raju | Ghantasala (musician) |
| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlKqow3_5rM | title=Missamma Movie Brindaavanamadi Andaridi Video Song NTR ANR SVR Savitri Jamuna | author=Shalimar Telugu Hindi Movies | website=youtube(videostreaming) |
| :: |
Notes
References
References
- (2012-12-17). "#19-Arabhi – The Raga with a Pleasing and Haunting Melody".
- ''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
- Saregama Telugu. "Seetharama Kalyanam-Full Album:; N.T.Rama Rao:; B.SarojaDevi :;Galipenchala Narasimha Rao".
- Shalimar Telugu Hindi Movies. "Missamma Movie Brindaavanamadi Andaridi Video Song NTR ANR SVR Savitri Jamuna".
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