Gaula or Gowla (pronounced gauḷa) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a '' janya'' rāgam (derived scale) from the 15th '' melakarta'' scale '' Mayamalavagowla''. It is a ''janya'' scale, as it does not have all the seven '' swaras'' (musical notes) in the ascending and descending scale. ''Gaula'' is an ancient rāgam mentioned in '' Sangita Ratnakara'', '' Sangita Makarandha'' and ''Sangita samayasara''.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras It is an auspicious rāgam, which is mostly sung in the early part of the concert. It is a popular rāgam and also a ''ghana rāgam''.

Structure and Lakshana

''Gaula'' is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain ''dhaivatam'' in the scale and does not contain ''gandharam'' in the ascending scale. It is an ''audava-vakra-shadava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'', meaning pentatonic ascending scale). ''Vakra-shadava'' means that the descending scale has 6 notes with inclusion of zig-zag movements (''vakra''). Its ''ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa'' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows: * ārohaṇa : * avarohaṇa : The notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, ekasruti rishabham'' (also known as ''Gaula rishabham''), ''shuddha madhyamam, panchamam'' and ''kakali nishadham'' in ascending scale, with ''antara gandharam'' included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see ''swaras'' in Carnatic music.

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to ''Gaula'' rāgam. Here are some popular '' kritis'' composed in this rāgam. *The second '' Pancharatna Kriti'', ''Duduku gala'', composed by Tyagaraja, the second of the 5 gems *''Sri Mahaganapatir Avatumam'', ''Nilotpalambikaya'', ''Mahishasura Mardhini'' and ''Tyagaraja Palayasumam'' by Muthuswami Dikshitar *''Kaama Janaka'' by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal *''Pranamamyaham'' by Mysore Vasudevachar *''Sharanagathamenru'' by Gopalakrishna Bharathi *''Gananathaya Namaste'' by ''Ambi Dikshithar'' *''Chelimi Kori Vacchiyunnadi'', a Varnam by ''Thiruvottriyur Thyagaraja'' *''Chora Chaturyaleela'', ''Senapathe Namostute'', ''Brindavana Nilaye'' and ''Aganita Mahimadhbutha'' by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi

Structure and Lakshana

Popular compositions

Film Songs

Language: Tamil

Notes

References