Harikambhoji

Harikambhoji (sanskrit हरिकाम्भोजि, tamil ஹரிகாம்போஜி) is a rāgam (musical scale), in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is the 28^th Melakarta rāgam (parent rāgam) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system.

"Khamaj" thaat of Hindustani Music is the equivalent to this rāgam "Ragas in Carnatic music" by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] "Raganidhi" by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras] .

It is known as "Harikedāragowla" in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music .

tructure and Lakshana

It is the 4^th melakarta in the 5^th chakra "Bana". The mnemonic name is "Bana-Bhu". The mnemonic phrase is "sa ri gu ma pa dhi ni" .

Its IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see "swaras in Carnatic music" for details on below notation and terms):
*IAST|ārohaṇa : S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S
*IAST|avarohaṇa : S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S(Chathusruthi Rishabham, Antara Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Chathusruthi Dhaivatham, Kaisiki Nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam - rāgam having all 7 swarams.

Janya rāgams

"Harikambhoji" has a lot of "janya" rāgams (derived rāgams) associated with it, of which "Kambhoji" is by far the most famous and frequently sung in concerts. The globally famous pentatonic scale "Mohanam" is also considered a janya of this rāgam. "Andholika", "Bahudari", "Kamaas", "Kedaragowla", "Natakurinji", "Navarasa kannada", "Sahana", "Senchuruti", "Suruti" and "Yadukula kambhoji" are also very popular janyas.

See "List of Janya rāgams" for a full list of Harikambhoji's janya rāgams.

Popular Compositions

Among the Trinity of Carnatic music only Thyagaraja has composed songs in Harikambhoji. "Ramanannu brovara", "Entara nithana" and "Dinamani vamsa" are very popular songs composed by "Thyagaraja" in this rāgam. "Enadu manam kavalai", a composition by Papanasam Sivan, is also popular.

Related rāgams

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

Harikambhoji's notes when shifted using Graha bedham, yields 5 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, "Kalyani", "Sankarabharanam", "Natabhairavi", "Kharaharapriya" and "Hanumatodi". For further details and an illustration of Graha bedham of this rāgam refer Related rāgams section in Sankarabharanam page.

References