Gamanashrama

Gamanashrama (pronounced gamanāshrama[1]) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 53rd Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. This is the Carnatic equivalent of Marva in Hindustani Classical Music.

Gamanashrama

Arohanam	S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₃ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₃ D₂ P M₂ G₃ R₁ S

It is called Gamakakriya in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1][2][3]

Structure and Lakshana

Gamanashrama scale with Shadjam at C

It is the 5th rāgam in the 9th chakra Brahma. The mnemonic name is Brahma-Ma. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu mi pa dhi nu.[2] 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 D₂ N₃ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₃ D₂ P M₂ G₃ R₁ S[lower-alpha 2]

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadham. As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampurna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Suryakantam, which is the 17th melakarta.

Janya rāgams

Gamanashrama has a few janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Hamsanandi and Purvi kalyani are popular. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Gamanashrama.

Compositions

A few compositions set to Gamanashrama are:

• Meenakshi Memudam & Ekamranatham bhajeham by Muthuswami Dikshitar (also sung in Poorvi Kalyani)
• Sri chakrapura vasini by Muthiah Bhagavatar
• Idu neeku nyayama by Mysore Vasudevachar
• Ubhaya kaveri by Veene Sheshanna
• Ihame Sukhamu by Kotishwara iyer
• Enni Maarulu ne vinna by Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna

Film Songs

Janya: Poorvi Kalyāni Ragam

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Arul Jothi Deivam	Thisai Maariya Paravaigal	M.S.Viswanathan	Balamurali Krishna,Abhaya (his wife)
Om Nadam Omkara Nadam	Miruthanga Chakravarthi		T. M. Soundararajan
Sandhikka Thudittaen	Vedham Pudhithu	Devendran	S.P.Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Anbenum Sudaral	Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham	Vijaya Bhaskar	Vani Jayaram
Vazhimel Vizhiyaal	Archanai Pookal	Ilaiyaraaja	S. Janaki

Related rāgams

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

Gamanashrama's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other minor melakarta rāgams, namely, Jhankaradhwani and Ratnangi. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer to Graha bhedam on Ratnangi.

Notes

1. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: S Ṟ G M̄ P D N Ṡ
   • Western: C D♭ E F♯ G A B C
2. Alternate notations:
   • Hindustani: Ṡ N D P M̄ G Ṟ S
   • Western: C B A G F♯ E D♭ C

References

1. Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal by Vidwan A Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
2. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
3. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras