Raga Lakshana- (Raga Characteristics)

Every singer and performer should confirm the characteristic of the raga which he sings or play to appeal and influence alike the scholar and lay person.

Solfa Notation: Script notation is used for writing Indian Music (Sa Ri Ga Ma) the several swaras are written as

                    Sa        Ri        Ga      Ma       Pa     Da     Ni     Sa

                    S          R         G       M         P       D       N      S


and represent by themseleves notes of duration of unit time. Unit time in Indian music is called 'Aksharakala' the duration of swara letter is one Aksgarakala.


A comma placed after a note increased its duration by unit time and a semi colon (;) placed  likewise increses its duration by two units time.


Aksharakala.   S = 1 Aksharakala.
                       S, = 2 Aksharakala.

                       S; = 3 Aksharakala.

                       S,: = 4 Aksharakala.

                       S;;, = 6 Aksharakala.


Musical time or duration or Kala.


In Prathama Kala one note is sung to until time.

In Dwithiya kala two note is sung to unit tome.

In Dwithiya kala note is sung to unit time.

In Tritiya kala  four note is sung to unit time.

In Chaturtha kala eight notes sung to unit time.


A horizotal line over a note or aroup of notes, halvers the  duration of the notes or a group. Two such lines reduces the duration and ending of talanga. Single line indicates end of each anga.


Avartha : completing one round(Avatha) of the Tala in full Eg. || SRGM | PD | NS || the two lines drawn indicate beginning and ending of talanga. Single line indicates endof each anga.


Note Variety : The mention of the name of the raga at the top of a melody indicates the kinds of notes (komal or thivra) used in that piece.


But in practice, sometime for the sake of convenience the numerals 1,2 and 3 are used to denote the varieties respectively then 16 notes of a sthayi or written as,



S = Shadja                               P = Panchama
R1=Shuddha rishabha              D1 = Shuddha Dhaivata

R2=Chatusriti rishabha            D2 = Chatasruti Dhaivata

R3=Shat Shruti rishabha           D3 = Shatshriti Dhaivata

G1=Shuddha Gandhara            N1 = Suddha Nishadha
G2=Sadharana Gandhara         N2 = Kaishiki Nishadha
G3=Anthara Gandhara             N3 = Kakali Nishadha.
M1= Shuddha Madhyama
M2=Prati Madhyama


 R2 = G1, R3 =G2, D2=N1, D3 = N2 in shruthi. Hence in 12 sritis there are 16 swara names as shown above. Base on these 16 swaras we have 72 mela kartha ragas and these are instrumental for the thousands of ragas that are now current.

Raga Characteristic

1. Raga. Shankarabharana                            Aro : S R2 G3 M P D N S

     Janaka raga, 29th Melakartha.                 Ava : S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S


2. Raga Hamsa Dhwani                               Aro : S R2 G3 P N S
    Janya of 29th Mela Dheera                      Ava : S N3 P G3 R S


3. Raga Kalyani                                           Aro : S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S

    Janaka raga, 65th Melekartha                  Ava : S N3 D2 P M2 G3 R2 S


4. Raga. Mohana                                         Aro : S R2 G3 P D2 S

    Janya of 28th Mela Kartha                       Ava : S D2 P G3 R2 S


5. Raga. Abhogi                                            Aro : S R2 G2 M1 D2 S

    Janya of 22nd Mela Kartha                       Ava : S D2 M1 G2 R2 S

    Kharaharapriya


6. Raga. Vasantha                                         Aro : S R2 G2 M1 D2 S

    Janya of 17th  Mela Kartha                       Ava : S D2 M1 G2 R2 S

    Surya Kantha


7. Raga. Kamboji                                           Aro : S R2 G2 M1 D2 S

    Janya of 28th  Mela Kartha                         

    Hari Kambodhi N3 is the                            Ava : S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

    Anya swara

8. Shree raga                                                 Aro : S R2 G2 M1 D2 S

    Janya of 28th  Mela Kartha                        Ava : S N2 P D2 N2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S

    Kharahara Priya