Abheri

Image:Udayaravichandrika scale.svg

Image:Kharaharapriya scale.svg

Abheri is an audava-sampoorna raga. Its {{IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa}} structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• Arohana : {{svaraC|S|G2|M1|P|N2|S'|foot=yes}}
• Avarohana : {{svaraC|S'|N2|D2|P|M1|G2|R2|S|foot=yes}}

File:Abheri.wav

The swaras in this scale are Chathusruthi Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Chathusruthi Dhaivatham and Kaisiki Nishadham.

There are some differing views on swaras in the scale of Abheri. It is considered a Bhashanga raga (scale has an anya swara, that is, a note which is not in the parent melakarta raga, in this case Kharaharapriya raga), with introduction of Suddha Dhiavatham (D1) in some phrases of the raga. A different view is that this raga is a janya of Natabhairavi (which has D1, suddha dhaivatham, in place of D2), with D2 being the anya swara (external note).

The original Abheri had Shuddha Dhaivatam and not Chathushruthi Dhaivatham in the Avarohanam, making it a Janya of Natabhairavi and not Kharaharapriya but was changed due to influences of Hindustani Bhimpalasi into the present form. R. Vedavalli sings the version of Nagumomu with Shuddha Dhaivatam. Today only one Muthuswami Dikshitar Krithi called Veenabheri and Kandha Vandharul of Papanasam Sivan are sung in the original. In fact, all books published before 1960 classify it as a Natabhairavi Janya. Syama Sastri's Ninnuvina Marigalada rendered in Reethigowla was originally composed in the old Abheri with D1. This has been rendered by Vedavalli too. In the 1st half of the 20th century, Nagumomu was also sung with D1 till it changed. As of Muthuswami Dikshitar, he has composed Panchashatpeetha Roopini in modern Abheri which he calls Devagandharam, a separate Raga. It makes sense to sing Nagumomu with D1 as Thyagarajaswami pleads to Rama to not torment him so it gives a more melancholic mood.

In fact, there are 2 separate versions of Abheri which posses D1:

1. The one used by Thyagarajaswami has N2 in Arohanam

Aro: S G2 M1 P N2 S

Av: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

2. Dikshitar's version has no N2 in Arohanam. He also uses Vakra Prayoga S M1 G2 M1. S G2 M1 and P N2 S Prayogas are not allowed in his variant. N2 S is allowed, perhaps in a P S N2 S Prayoga.

Aro: S M1 G2 M1 P S

Av:S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S[http://The%20Abheri%20conundrum.%20(2009,%20March%2026).%20Just%20Thinking%20Out%20Aloud%20.%20.%20.%20https://sunson.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/the-abheri-conundrum/?source=post_page-----3e7e2d48d38e-------------------------------- The Abheri conundrum. (2009, March 26). Just Thinking Out Aloud . . . https://sunson.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/the-abheri-conundrum/?source=post_page-----3e7e2d48d38e--------------------------------]

This raga is closer to Bageshri as for Bhagyasree Gandharam is sung softly. Thus a subtle difference of Gandhara makes a listener to feel this raga as Bhagyasree.

• Nagumomu Ganaleni By Thyagaraja
• Bhajare Re Manasa, Gokula Nilaya Kripalaya By Mysore Vasudevacharya
• Kandha Muruga Varuvaye, a Popular Bhajanai by Pithukuli Murugadas
• Muraliya Nadava keli, Karevaru Ba Manege By Vidyaprasanna Teertha in Kannada
• Ambiga Naa Ninna Nambide, Echarike Echarike, Katiyalli Karavittano By Purandara Dasa
• Pavamana Jagada Prana By Vijaya Dasa
• Angaladolu Ramanadida - (Normally sung in Bhimplasi style) one of the greatest literary works of Kanaka Dasa which tells about the Desire of little Rama
• Veral Veli from Sandham: Symphony Meets Classical Tamil by Composer Rajan written by Kapilar
• Vinabheri By Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Eshwari Rajeshwari By Muthaiah Bhagavatar

Note that the following songs are tuned in Raag Bhimpalasi, the Hindustani equivalent of Abheri.

An excellent rendition of this Raaga can be found in one of L. Shankar Albums Raga Aberi. He received a Grammy Nomination for this composition.

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

Abheri's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other janya rāgams, namely, Mohanakalyani, Kedaragaula and Arabhi (if we consider the Kharaharapriya-based scale). Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. In case of Janya ragams, only notes that occur in both ascending and descending scale are taken for this change. For further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam refer Graha bhedam on Sankarabharanam. Abheri has close resemblance to Karnataka—devagandhari and Bhimpalasi. Whether they are essentially same is a matter of debate among the musicologists.

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Category:Janya ragas (kharaharapriya)

Category:Carnatic ragas