Kamavardhani

Kamavardhini (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 51st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also referred by the name Pantuvarāḷi.^[1]

Kamavardhini

Arohanam	S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₂ G₃ R₁ S

This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the beginning of a concert. It is called Kāshirāmakriya in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school. The Hindustani music equivalent of Kamavardhini is the Poorvi thaat/Puriya Dhanashree.^[1][2]

Structure and Lakshana

Kamavardini scale with Shadjam at C

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 9th chakra Brahma. The mnemonic name is Brahma-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu mi pa dha nu.^[1] 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 D₁ N₃ Ṡ^[a]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₂ G₃ R₁ S^[b]

(the notes in this scale are shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, prathi madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham, kakali nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam – a rāgam that has all seven swaras (notes). This rāgam differs from the 15th melakarta rāgam Mayamalavagowla, which is the rāgam taught to a beginner in Carnatic music, only by the madhyamam. Kamavardhani is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Mayamalavagowla.

Janya rāgams

It has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with it.

Popular compositions

• Guruvina Gulaamanaaguva Tanaka (also sung in Salagabhairavi) – Purandaradasa
• Harinama Jihveyolirabeku By Vyasatirtha
• Vitalayya Vitalayya – Jagannatha Dasa
• Ramanujare Namo – Kanakadasa
• Raghuvara Nannu, Shambo Mahadeva, Saramegani, Appa Rama Bhakthi, Shobhane, Vadaera Daivamu, Sundara Daradeham, Ninne Nera Nammi, Naradamuni Vedalina and Shiva Shiva Shiva Enarada – Thyagaraja
• Ennaganu Rama Bhajana – Bhadrachala Ramadasu
• Ramanatham Bhajeham, Visalaksheem Visweseem, Senapathe Palayamam, Sri Sundararajam and Ucchishta Ganapathau – Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Ninnarul Iyambalaagumo, Amba Manam Kaninthu and Neeye Pedai Mukham(Varnam) – Papanasam Sivan
• Sarasaksha Paripalaya Maamayi, Paripalaya Sarasiruha, Matanga Tanayayi Mangalam and Saroruhaasana (Navarathri sixth day krithi) – Swati Tirunal
• Magalahârathide Nēku, Mahitâtma Sevite – Kalyani Varadarajan
• Engum Nirainda Paramporule(Varnam) – Madurai Sri N Krishnan^[3]
• Sharanam tava – Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna
• Shankari Ninne – Mysore Vasudevachar
• Kunjitha Padhathai and Thenpuliyur Sivakami Nesa – Gopalakrishna Bharathi
• Nirupama Sundarakara, Manruladum Paraman and Sonnadhai Kel Kanna – Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
• Alli Undidalaam – Pudukode K.S. Krishnamurthi
• Adarkulle(Padam) – Subbarama Iyer
• Niddirayil(Padam) – Ghanam Krishna Iyer
• Vaddante(Padam) – Govindaswamy Ayya
• Inchu Boni(Padam) – Sarangapani

Film Songs

Language: Tamil

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Amba Manamkanindhu	Sivakavi	Papanasam Sivan	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Yezhu Swarangalukul(Ragamalika with Sindhubairavi,khamboji)	Apoorva Raagangal	M. S. Viswanathan	Vani Jairam
Neerada Neram	Vaira Nenjam
Arpudha Kalaidhan	Idhaya Nayagan	Deva
Intha Nimisham	Hello		Hariharan, K. S. Chithra
Thenthoovum Vasandham	Vaidehi Kalyanam		Mano, K. S. Chithra
Karmegam Oorgolam Pogum	Kalamellam Un Madiyil	Chandrabose	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Devi Devi	Naan Adimai Illai	Vijay Anand
Rojavai Thaalattum	Ninaivellam Nithya	Illayaraja
Theme Music (Violin Concert)	Raja Paarvai		Various
Kaadhal Ennum Kaaviyam	Vattathukkul Chaduram		Jikki
Piraye Piraye	Pithamagan		Madhu Balakrishnan
Om Sivoham	Naan Kadavul		Vijay Prakash
Ninnaichcharan Adainthen	Bharathi		Bombay Jayashree
Yenna Varam Vendum	Nandhavana Theru		Mano,Lekha, Sindhu Devi
Sree Ramavaarai	Sri Rama Rajyam		Chinmayi,Sakyath
Aadum Pambirukuthu(Ragam Panthuvarali touches)	Illam		P. Jayachandran
Enna Nadakkudhu Saami	Maamanithan		Muthu Sirpy
Nalla Neram Neram	Andha Oru Nimidam		S. Janaki
Vazhimel Vizhiyaal	Archanai Pookal
Nalam Paaduven	Kanmaniye Pesu	Raveendran
Hai Rama	Rangeela	A. R. Rahman	Hariharan, Swarnalatha
Athini Sithini	Thenali		Hariharan, Chitra Sivaraman, Kamal Haasan
Macha Machiniye	Star		Unni Menon
Muththa Mazhai(Pallavi only)	Thug Life		Chinmayi Sripada, Dhee
Oh Nenjame	Paasakanal	S. A. Rajkumar	K. J. Yesudas,Sunandha
Adi kadhal Enpathu	Ennavalle		Hariharan
En Vanam Neethana	Dhinamdhorum	Oviyan	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,Shenoy Balesh
Or Aayiram Yaanai	Nandhaa	Yuvan Shankar Raja	P. Unnikrishnan
Amma Endralle			Illayaraja
Poovum Malarnthida	Swarnamukhi	Swararaj	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Kangal Theduthey	Manathodu Mazhaikalam	Karthik Raja	Sadhana Sargam, Jassie Gift
Devathaiyai Mannil	Jjunction	Bharadwaj	Srinivas,Reshmi
Or Mirugam	Paradesi	G. V. Prakash Kumar	V. V. Prasanna, Pragathi Guruprasad
Marandhaye	Teddy	D. Imman	Jonita Gandhi , Pradeep Kumar
Enge Ponai	Jeeva		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Holy sage Instrumental BGM	Maan Karate	Anirudh Ravichandar

Related rāgams

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

Kamavardani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields Kanakangi (the 1st melakarta). Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. See further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam on Kanakangi.

It tends to sound similar to, and is often mistaken for, another ragam called Purvikalyani.

Notes

1. Alternate notations:

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

   • Hindustani: Ṡ N Ḏ P M̄ G Ṟ S
   • Western: C B A♭ G F♯ E D♭ C