Sahana (pronounced sahānā) is a popular

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as a ...

m (musical scale) in

Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka. It is o ...

. It is a

janya ''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya raga'' is one derived from one of the 72 ''melakarta'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a varie ...

rāgam (derived scale) associated with the 28th

Melakarta Mēḷakartā is a collection of fundamental musical scales (ragas) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). ''Mēḷakartā'' ragas are parent ragas (hence known as ''janaka'' ragas) from which other ragas may be generated. A ''melaka ...

rāgam

Harikambhoji Harikambhoji (pronounced harikāmbhōji) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 28th ''Melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system. One of the first scales employed b ...

. The

Hindustani music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, si ...

ragam ''Sahana'' is an upper-tetrachord-dominant Kanada-anga

, from the Kafi thaat, also allied with Bageshree and Bhimpalasi. The shuddha Dhaivat is an important rest note (nyaas swara).

Structure and Lakshana

It is a ''Ubhaya Vakra

sampoorna raga In Indian classical music, Sampūrṇa rāgas (संपूर्ण, Sanskrit for 'complete', also spelt as ''sampoorna'') have all seven '' swaras'' in their scale. In general, the swaras in the '' Arohana'' and '' Avarohana'' strictly follow th ...

m''. ''Vakra'' means crooked. ''Ubhaya Vakra'' means that the notes in both ascent and descent follow a zig zag pattern. The notes in ascending and descending scale do not follow a strict progression. Hence the note phrases contain such ''vakra'' phrases, lending a unique beauty to this rāgam. Though it is a ''sampoorna rāgam'' (contains all 7 notes), the ''vakra'' scale means it is not considered a ''melakarta'', as melakarta rāgams must have strictly ascending and descending scales. It is also classified as a ''rakti raga'' (raga with high melodic content). Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see '' swaras in Carnatic music'' for details on below notation and terms): * : * : The notes used in this scale are ''Shadjam, Chathusruthi Rishabham, Antara Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Chathusruthi Dhaivatham'' and ''Kaisiki Nishadham''. Its characteristic phrases are (R2 G3 M1 P),(P M1 D2 N2), (N2 S D2), (G3 M1 R2). Sahana has a distinct mood due to these phrases and characteristic gamakams and is rarely confused with other ragams. Sahana has a close relationship to Malavi and to some extent Dwijawanthi/Jujavanti. While the use of Anthara Gaandharam in R2 G2 R2 makes it different from Dwijawanthi, since Dwijawanthi uses Saadharana Gaandharam, sahana has a closer relationship with Malavi which has an identical Vakra scale formation as Sahana.

The original Sahana of Carnatic music

The original Sahana is the janya ragam of Sri melakarta .It is "bhashanga", "sampurna", "desiya",panchama "vakra" in arohanam and suitable for singing at all times.The raga is a desiya raga meaning it made its way to theory, from practice. It was evolved in the public domain, enjoyed the airtime with listeners and musicians and then it became important enough to be inducted into the portals of our music as a formal raga, distinct in its svarupa, appeal and capable of being moulded into compositions. The jeeva swaras : - rishabham, - gandharam and - nishadam provide extraordinary ranjana. Synonyms : Chahana, Shahana, sahana. Arohanam :

Avarohana An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The notes descend in pitch ...

m : The swaras are -Shadjam, - Chaturshruti rishabham, - Sadharana gandharam, * - Antara Gandharam, - Shuddha madhyamam, - Panchamam, - Chaturshruti dhaivatham and -Kaishiki nishadam. The ragam is bhashaga because; * - Anthara gandharam occurs sparingly. Reference
Sangita Sampradaya Priyadarshini cakram 1-4

Select compositions

There are a large number of popular songs composed in this rāgam in Carnatic Music as well as Tamil Film Music. Here are some Carnatic music compositions. *''Raghupate rama rakshasa bhima'',''Ee Vasudha'',''Giripai nelakona'', ''dEhi tavapada bhaktim'', ''oorake kalguna'', ''Emana Dichevo'' and ''Vandanamu raghunandana'' composed by

Thyagaraja Thyagaraja (Telugu: త్యాగరాజ) (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Thyāgayya and in full as Kakarla Thyagabrahmam, was a composer and vocalist of Carnatic music, a form of Indian classical music. Tyagaraja and his ...

*''Rama ika nannu brovara'' by

Patnam Subramania Iyer Patnam Subramania Iyer (1845 – July 31, 1902) was a composer and singer of Carnatic music. Subramaniya Iyer followed the traditions of the great composer Tyagaraja. He has left behind almost one hundred compositions. Subramaniya Iyer was bo ...

*''Manamu kavalannu'' by

Muthiah Bhagavatar Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar (15 November 1877 – 30 June 1945), commonly known as Muthiah Bhagavatar, is one of Carnatic classical music's famous twentieth-century composers. He also created about 20 '' ragas''. Early life Muthiah was bo ...

*''Sri kamalambikaya'' by

Muthuswami Dikshitar Muthuswami Dikshitar (Mudduswamy Dikshitar)(, 24 March 1776 – 21 October 1835), mononymously Dikshitar, was a South Indian poet, singer and veena player, and a legendary composer of Indian classical music, who is considered one of the musical ...

*''Inkevarunnaaru nannu" in Adi thalam by Annaswaami Sastri s/o Subbaraya Sastri *''Saravana Bhava'' in Adi thalam by

Thanjavur Sankara Iyer Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the ...

*''Sri Vatapi Ganapathiye'' in Adi thalam by

Papanasam Sivan Paapanaasam Raamayya Sivan (26 September 1890 – 1 October 1973) was an Indian composer of Carnatic music and a singer. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1971. He was also a film score composer in Kannada cine ...

*''Kavave Kanyakumari'' by

Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (6 July 1930 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer, composer, and character actor. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in ...

*''Karunimpa'',

Varnam Varṇam is a type of composition in the Carnatic music system consisting of short metric pieces which encapsulate the main features (patterns of notes) of a '' raga''. Varnams capture the ''raga bhavam'', ''ranjaka prayogas'' ''visesha sanch ...

Tiruvottiyur Tyaggaya Tiruvottriyur (Thiruvottiyur or TVT) is a neighbourhood in North Chennai, administered by the Greater Chennai Corporation. It is part of the Tondiarpet division, located to the north of Chennai. It is one of the fifteen administrative zones in ...

*''Chittam Irangada'' by

*''Shanti Neelava Vendum'' by Sethumadhava Rao

In television Series

* "Thamarapoovil Vazhum" by Berny–Ignatius (''

Chandralekha Chandralekha may refer to: Films * ''Chandralekha'' (1948 film), an Indian Tamil film directed and produced by S. S. Vasan starring M. K. Radha * ''Chandralekha'' (1995 film), an Indian Tamil film directed by Nambirajan starring Vijay * ''Chandra ...

'' – Malayalam) * "Chentharmizhi" by M. Jayachandran ( Perumazhakkalam – Malayalam) * "Nadha Nee Varumbol" by Alex Paul ( Vasthavam – Malayalam)

Language:Tamil

* "Indha Veenaiku Theriyadhu" by V. S. Narasimhan (Rail Sneham – TV Serial) * "Aanmaavin Raagam" by

Rajesh Vaidhya Rajhesh Vaidhya ( ta, ராஜேஷ் வைத்யா) (or, Vaidya), is an Indian veena player born on 14 June 1973 hailing from Tamil Nadu. Besides performing on stage, he has worked with various film music composers. He also acted in ...

(Sahana – TV Serial) * "Jeevan Neeye" by Renjith Unni (Anbendraale Amma – Music Video)

Structure and Lakshana

The original Sahana of Carnatic music

Select compositions

In television Series

Language:Tamil

Film Songs

Language:Tamil

Language:Malayalam

Language: Telugu

Notes

References