- Source: Kamavardhani
Kamavardhani (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 51st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also referred by the name Pantuvarāḷi, although purists prefer to designate it as Kamavardhini. It literally means "that which increases desire".
This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the beginning of a concert. It is called Kāshirāmakriya in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school. The Hindustani music equivalent of Kamavardhini is the Poorvi thaat/Puriya Dhanashree.
Structure and Lakshana
It is the 3rd rāgam in the 9th chakra Brahma. The mnemonic name is Brahma-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu mi pa dha nu. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
ārohaṇa: S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ
avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₂ G₃ R₁ S
(the notes in this scale are shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, prathi madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham, kakali nishadham)
It is a sampoorna rāgam – a rāgam that has all seven swaras (notes). This rāgam differs from the 15th melakarta rāgam Mayamalavagowla, which is the rāgam taught to a beginner in Carnatic music, only by the madhyamam. Kamavardhani is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Mayamalavagowla.
Janya rāgams
It has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with it.
Popular compositions
Guruvina Gulaamanaaguva Tanaka (also sung in Salagabhairavi) – Purandaradasa
Harinama Jihveyolirabeku By Vyasatirtha
Vitalayya Vitalayya By Jagannatha Dasa
Ramanujare Namo By Kanakadasa
Raghuvara Nannu, Shambo Mahadeva, Saramegani, Aparama bhakthi, Shobhaane,Vadaera Daivamu, Sundara daradeham, Ninne Nera Nammi, and Shiva Shiva Shiva Enarada – Thyagaraja
Ennaganu Rama Bhajana – Bhadrachala Ramadasu
Ramanatham Bhajeham, Visalaksheem Visweseem, Senapathe Palayamam, Sri Sundararajam – Muthuswami Dikshitar,
Ninnarul Iyambalagumo – Papanasam Sivan
Sarasaksha Paripalaya Maamayi, Paripalaya Sarasiruha and Saroruhaasana (Navarathri sixth day krithi) – Swati Tirunal
Magalahârathide Nēku, Mahitâtma Sevite – Kalyani Varadarajan
Engum Nirainda Paramporule (varnam)- Madurai Sri N Krishnan
Sharanam tava – Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna
Shankari Ninne – Mysore Vasudevachar
Kunjitha padhathai by Gopalakrishnabharathi
Alli undidalaam vareer by Dandapani desikar
Film Songs
= Language: Tamil
=Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Kamavardani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields Kanakangi (the 1st melakarta). Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. See further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam on Kanakangi.
It tends to sound similar to, and is often mistaken for, another ragam called Purvikalyani.
