Dhanasri () is a

rāga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

belonging to the tradition of

Odissi music Odissi music (, ) is a genre of Indian classical music, classical music originating from the eastern state of Odisha. Rooted in the ancient ritual music tradition dedicated to the deity Jagannatha, Odissi music has a rich history spanning over ...

. Falling under the ''meḷa'' of the same name, the raga uses ''komala gandhara'' and ''komala nisada'' swaras and is traditionally associated with the ''karuṇa rasa.'' The raga is mentioned in treatises such as the ''

Gita Prakasa The Gitaprakasa (IAST: 'Gītaprakāśa'; "Illuminator of music") is a 16th-century musical treatise belonging to the tradition of Odissi music, written by the musicologist Krusnadasa Badajena Mahapatra. Mahapatra was a court musician of Gajapati M ...

'' and ''

Sangita Narayana The Sangita Narayana (IAST: 'Sangīta Nārāyana') is a 17th-century musical treatise belonging to the tradition of Odissi music (a genre of classical music in India), written by musician ''Kabiratna'' Purusottama Misra and attributed to Gajapat ...

.''

Structure

An ancient raga, Dhanasri is accepted as one of the primary ''melas'' in Odissi music due to its prominence. It has been used by hundreds of poet-composers for well-over the past many centuries. Its ''aroha-abaroha'' are given below : ''Aroha :'' n S g M P n S ''Abaroha :'' S n D P M g R S

Compositions

Some of the well-known traditional compositions in this raga include : * ''Sariba Ki E Nisi Go'' by

Banamali Dasa Banamali Dasa (; 1720–1793) was an Indian medieval Odia ''bhakta-poet'' and composer of Odissi music from the state of Odisha. "''Dinabandhu daitari''", "''Kede chanda jane lo sahi''", and "''Manima he etiki maguni mora''" are some of hi ...

* ''Kanta Bina Diba Rajani'' by

Upendra Bhanja ''Kabi Samrata'' Upendra Bhanja, ) was a 17th-century Odia poet-composer of classical Odissi music.Mansingha, Mayadhar: ''History of Oriya Literature'': Publisher, Sahitya Akademi, Delhi He is most known for his Odissi songs and kabyas written ...

* ''Kadamba Bane Bansi Bajila'' by

Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka (Alternatively spelled Gopalakrishna, Pattnaik; Gopāḷakruṣṇa Paṭṭanāyaka, ; 1784-1862) was an Odia poet & composer of Odissi music. His Odissi songs in various traditional ragas and talas are widely sung acr ...

* ''Gostha Chandramanku Asa'' by

* ''Ke Ki Kahi Ki Bigidaila'' by

* ''Kunchita Nila Kuntala'' by Benudhara

References

{{Odissi music ragas Ragas of Odissi music