Khamas''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras or Kamās/ Khamās /Khamāch/ Khamāj / Kamāchi (கமாச்) (ఖమాస్/కమాచి) 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 ...

m in

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

(musical scale of South Indian classical music). 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 vari ...

'' rāgam (derived scale) from 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 derived. A ''melaka ...

'' scale ''

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 ...

''. It is a ''janya'' scale, as it does not have all the seven ''

swara Swara () or svara is an Indian classical music term that connotes simultaneously a breath, a vowel, a note, the sound of a musical note corresponding to its name, and the successive steps of the octave, or ''saptanka''. More comprehensively ...

s'' (musical notes) in the ascending scale. It is a scale that evokes ''Shringara rasa''. It is suitable for ''javali'' type compositions.

Structure and lakshana

''Khamas'' is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain ''rishabham'' in the ascending scale. It is a ''vakra-shadava-sampurna'' rāgam (''vakra-shadava'', meaning 6 notes in ascending scale with zig-zag moves). Its ' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows: * : * : The notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatam'' and ''kaisiki nishadham'' in ascending scale, with ''chathusruthi rishabham'' included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see ''swaras'' in Carnatic music.

Alternate versions

Originally, ''Khamas'' was an ''upanga raga'' (uses only the notes in the parent scale). Later with the usage in ''javalis'' and other later compositions, the ''bhashanga'' type of ''Khamas'' came into use (using notes external to the scale). ''Kakali nishadam'' (N3) is introduced as ''anya swara'' (external note) occasionally. According to

Muthuswami Dikshitar Muthuswami Dikshitar (Mudduswamy Dikshitar) (, 24 March 1776 – 21 October 1835), mononymously Dikshitar, was a South Indian poet, singer, veena player, and a prolific composer of Indian classical music. He was the youngest member of what is re ...

school of music, ''Khamas'' is a ''

sampurna 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 the a ...

'' with no zig-zag notes (no ''vakra'' usage). Khamāj (खमाज) of Hindustani Music closely resembles Khamas raga. The Hindi film song ‘Tere Mere Milan Ki’ from the movie Abhimaan is based on Khamaj.Hindustani music's equivalent of Khamas Raga
/ref>

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to ''Khamas''

Raga 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 ...

. Here are some popular ''

Kriti Kriti may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kriti (music), a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music * ''Kriti'' (film), a 2016 Indian Hindi-language short film * Kriti TV, Greek TV station People with the name * Kriti Bhar ...

s'', ''

Thillana A Tillana or thillana is a rhythmic piece in South Indian Carnatic music that is generally performed at the end of a concert and widely used in classical indian dance performances. It was popularised by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, M Balamuralikrish ...

s,'' ''

Varnam Varṇam is a type of composition in the Carnatic music system that encapsulates the key features of a raga, and considered as a foundational element in the learning path. Varnams capture the essence of the ragam in terms of typical swara patt ...

s'', ''

Swarajati Swarajati is a form in Carnatic music, which is helpful before learning a ''varnam''. It has '' pallavi'', sometimes an '' anupallavi'', and at least one '' charanam''. The themes of ''swarajathis'' are usually either ''bhakti'', love or courag ...

s'', ''Padams'' and Javalis composed in this

. *''Sambhashiva(

)'' by Chinnikrishna Dasar *''Edho Paramukham(

)'' by Ponniah Pillai of the

Tanjore Quartet ''Thanjavur Quartet'' were four brothers, Chinnayya, Ponnayya (1804-1864),https://www.karnatik.com/co1375.shtml Sivanandam and Vadivelu, who lived during the early 19th century and contributed to the development of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic mu ...

*''Mate Malaya-dhvaja pandya-sanjate(Daru

varnam Varṇam is a type of composition in the Carnatic music system that encapsulates the key features of a raga, and considered as a foundational element in the learning path. Varnams capture the essence of the ragam in terms of typical swara patt ...

)'' 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 ...

*''Samiyai Azhaittu Vaadi(Pada

)'' by Ponniah Pillai of the

Thanjavur Quartet ''Thanjavur Quartet'' were four brothers, Chinnayya, Ponnayya (1804-1864),https://www.karnatik.com/co1375.shtml Sivanandam and Vadivelu, who lived during the early 19th century and contributed to the development of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic mu ...

*''Entaninne(Pada

)'' by Subbarama Dikshitar *''Sa vama rusha yatu(Pada

), Sarasa-sama-mukha(

Krithi A ''kriti'' () is a form of musical composition in the Carnatic music literature. The Sanskrit common noun ''Kriti'' means 'creation' or 'work'. A kriti forms the mental backbone of any typical Carnatic music concert and is the longer format o ...

), Sreesha Padmanabha Pahi(

) and Palayamamayi bho shrikanthesha(

)'' by Maharaja

Swathi Thirunal Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma III (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He was a great musician and composer who has to his credit over 400 classical compositions in both Carnatic and Hindustani st ...

*''Velanai Kaanbom (Pada

) an Velanai Ninainthal(

)'' by Muthuswami Kavi *''Vesariti Neeve(Pada

)'' by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna *''Santanagopala Krishnam'', ''Shadanane Sakalamarpayami'' and ''Sarasa Dala Nayana'' by

*''Sujana Jeevana'', ''Laali Laaliyani'' and ''Seethapathe'' composed by

Tyagaraja Sadguru Tyagaraja Swami ( Telugu: సద్గురు త్యాగరాజ స్వామి; 4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Tyagayya, and in full as Kakarla Tyagabrahmam ( Telugu: కాకర్ల త్యాగబ ...

*''Manasa Ramuni Maravakave'' by

Venkataramana Bhagavathar Venkataramana Bhagavathar (1781–1874) was a direct disciple of Saint Thyagaraja and a composer of Carnatic music. Bhagavathar composed his songs in Saurashtra language and has left behind a number of ''kritis''. Early life Bhagavathar was born ...

*''Dooru Maduvarene'', ''Mooruthiyanu Niliso'' By

Purandara Dasa Purandara Dasa (IAST: Purandara Dāsa; (1470 – 1564) was a composer, singer and a Haridasa philosopher from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a follower of Madhwacharya, Madhvacharya's Dwaitha, Dvaita philosophy. He was one of the chi ...

*''Theruvil Varano(Padam)'' by

Muthu Thandavar Muthu Thandavar (1525–1600 CE) (Tamil:முத்துத்தாண்டவர்) was composer of Carnatic music. He lived in the town of Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu. His contributions to Carnatic music have been largely forgotten and not m ...

*''Maatada Baradeno(Jaavali)'' By Bangalore Nagarathnamma *''Aapaduraku (Jaavali)'' By Pattbhiramayya *''Rama Jogi Mandu'', ''Ivela Nannu Brovara'' and ''Rama Rara'' by

Bhadrachala Ramadasu Kancharla Gopanna () ( – 1688), popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu (), was a 17th-century devotee of the Hindu god Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of ...

*''Brochevaarevarura'', ''Upendram Ashrayami Santatam'' and ''Intha Paraakaelanayya'' by

Mysore Vasudevachar Mysore Vasudevacharya (28 May 1865 – 17 May 1961) was an Indian musician and composer of Carnatic music compositions who belonged to the direct line of Thyagaraja's disciples. Vasudevachar's compositions (numbering over 200) were mostly in Telu ...

, whose use of N3 in his compositions in this raga is particularly noteworthy. *''Idathu Padam Thookki'', ''Thiruvalar Mayilaiyin'' and ''Rama Naamaamrutha'' 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 cinema a ...

*''

Tillana A Tillana or thillana is a rhythmic piece in South Indian Carnatic music that is generally performed at the end of a concert and widely used in classical indian dance performances. It was popularised by Dr. M Balamuralikrishna, Lalgudi Jayaraman ...

'' 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 bor ...

*''

'' by Dr.

Lalgudi Jayaraman Lalgudi Gopala Iyer Jayaraman (17 September 1930 – 22 April 2013) was an Indian Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. He is commonly grouped with M.S. Gopalakrishnan and T.N.Krishnan as part of the violin trinity of Carnatic mu ...

*''Dholayam Chala Dholayam Chala'' by

Annamacharya Tallapaka Annamacharya () (09 May 1408 – 23 February 1503), also popularly known as Annamayya, was a Telugu musician, composer, and a Hindu saint. He is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called '' samkirtanas.'' His devoti ...

*''Shambho Mahadeva Chandrachuda'' by Palghat Parameswara Bhagavathar *''Saraswati Sarasa-vani Sarasija-bhavunikki-rani'' by

M. D. Ramanathan Manjapara Devesa Bhagavathar Ramanathan (20 May 1923 – 27 April 1984) was a Carnatic music composer and vocalist who created a distinctive style of singing rich in Bhava and Laya. He was considered for the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Ka ...

*''Jayati Jayati Bharata Mata'' by Mayuram Vishvanatha shastri

Film Compositions

Language:
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

Notes

References

{{Janya, state=collapsed Janya ragas