Arabhi

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.

Arabhi
ArohanamS R₂ M₁ P D₂ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₃ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S
Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style Tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇa
Veṇu
Nāgasvaraṃ
Gottuvadhyam (Citra Vīṇa)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghatam
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

Arabhi is a raga that dates back to 7 AD. Originally, it was called as pazhanthakkam in Ancient Tamil music.

Structure and Lakshana
Ascending scale with Shadjam at C
Descending scale with Shadjam at C

Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa 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 descending scale, in terms of basic notation).

  1. In Arabhi the swara "ga" is close to "ma" but in Devagandhari it is not the same.
  2. The swara "ri" is not fluctuated in Arabhi but it is given "asaivu" in Devagandhari
  3. The phrase "pa ma da sa" should not be sung in Arabhi, as it is exclusive for Devagandhari
  4. Devagandhari is sung with gamakas and vilambita kala prayogas (usages with elongated notes)[1]
  5. Devagandhari is sung with deergha gandharam (elongated G3)[1]

Arabhi raga is a very energetic and it lends itself to creativity in brigas (fast-paced swara usages) more than gamakas.

The 3rd of Pancharatna Kritis (five gems of compositions), Sadhinchanae(also known as "Samayaniki Tagu Mataladene") by 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.

TypeCompositionComposertalam
VarnamSarasija MukhiroPallavi Doraiswamy IyerAdi
VarnamAnnamae aravaaTiger VaradachariarAdi
VarnamAmba GauriIrayimman ThampiAdi
KritiLalisidalu MaganaPurandara DasaruAdi
KritiSaadinchane O Manasa (3rd Pancharatnam)ThyagarajaAdi
KritiChaala kallalaaduThyagarajaAdi
KritiO RajeevakshaThyagarajaChapu
KritiNada sudha rasaThyagarajaRupakam
KritiPatiki MangalaThyagarajaAdi
KritiGanarajena rakshitohamMuthuswamy DikshitarChapu
KritiSri Saraswati namostuteMuthuswami DikshitarRupakam
KritiShwetaranyeshwaramMuthuswami DikshitarAdi
KritiAdipuriswaramMuthuswami DikshitarAdi
KritiMarakoti koti lavanyaMuthuswami DikshitarJhampa
KritiPalayashumam ParadevateSyama SastriTriputa
KritiPaahi Parvata Nandini (Navarathri krithi-9th day)Swathi ThirunalAdi
KritiVande MaheswaramSwathi ThirunalMisra Chapu
KritiNarasimham MamavaSwathi ThirunalKhanda Chapu
KritiSri Ramana VibhoSwathi ThirunalAadi
KritiMadhu kaitabhaMuthiah BhagavatharAdi
KritiDurga Lakshmi SaraswatiPapanasam SivanAdi
KritiMaravanu ne ninnuG. N. BalasubramaniamRupakam
KritiSri Sakala GanadhipaDr M. BalamuralikrishnaAdi
Kriti Mahadeva Sutham Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna Adi
Kriti Mahâ Balavantâ Sri Hanumantâ Kalyani Varadarajan Adi

Film Songs

Language:Tamil
Song Movie Composer Singer
Yeri Karaiyin Mele Mudhalali K. V. Mahadevan T. M. Soundararajan
Thendralil Aadidum Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan M. S. Viswanathan K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Santhakavigal Metti Ilaiyaraaja Brahmanandam
Aasai Kiliye Thambikku Entha Ooru Malaysia Vasudevan
Madhurai Vaazhum Pudhupatti Ponnuthayi Unni Menon, S. Janaki
Mannavane Mannavane Thanthu Vitten Ennai S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Kaalai Arumbi Kana Kandaen Vidyasagar Srinivas, Kalyani Nair
O Sukumari Anniyan Harris Jayaraj Shankar Mahadevan, Harini

Title Song
Song Tv Serial Composer Singer
Aadugiran Kannan Adugiran Kannan C. Sathya Srinivas

Notes
  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R M P D Ṡ
    • Western: C D F G A C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ N D P M G R S
    • Western: C B A G F E D C
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References
  1. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
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