Vasantha (raga)

Vasantha (pronounced vasantā) is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya raga of Suryakantam, the 17th Melakarta raga.^[1] According to P|Subba Rao, majority opinion is that the raga is derived from Mayamalavagowla, the 15th Melakarta raga.^[2]

For the Tamil film, see Vasantha Raagam.

Vasantha

Arohanam	S G₃ M₁ D₂ N₃ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₃ D₂ M₁ G₃ R₁ S

Vasantha is suitable to be sung in evening and is considered an auspicious raga.^[1]

Structure

Vasantha is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam. It is called a vakra audava-shadava raga, malathiga^[1] structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• ārohaṇa : S G₃ M₁ D₂ N₃ Ṡ^[a]
• avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₃ D₂ M₁ G₃ R₁ S^[b]

This scale uses the notes shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadam. Some claim that Vasantha had only D1 and not D2 originally.

Arohanam and avarohanam for Vasantha with tambura

Popular compositions

Vasantha has ample scope for alapana. This scale has been used by many composers for compositions in classical music. Here are some popular compositions in Vasantha.

• Ninne Kori, a popular Adi tala Varnam by Tecchur Singarachar
• Sannutangi, a popular Adi tala Daruvarnam, Shiva Mahasena and Jaya Mangalam by Muthiah Bhagavatar
• Dani Korikenu, a rare Jhampa Tala Padavarnam by Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar
• Seetamma Mayamma and Etla Dorikitivo by Tyagaraja
• Brihadambikayai, Hariharaputram, Marakatha Lingam and Ramachandram Bhavayami by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Paramapurusha Jagadeesha by Swathi Thirunal
• Ellam Sivan Seyal by Shuddhananda Bharati
• Malmaruga Shanmukha and Maadhayai Nidhi Ennum by Papanasam Sivan
• Natanam Adinar by Gopalakrishna Bharathi
• Kanden Kanden by Arunachala Kavi
• Neelamalar, Ivandhaan Ivandhaane, Pavana Kumaara and Vita Samavara Jala by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
• Rajeswarim Sambhavaye by Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji
• Thom Thomena and Yoganrusimha Padambuja Brunga by Kalyani Varadarajan
• Kodu Bega Divyamathi, Dangurava Saariraryya(also sung in Nadanamakriya) and Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Enniro Seetha by Purandara Dasa
• Palisenna Gopalakrishna By Jagannatha Dasa
• Vade Venkatadri Meeda by Annamacharya
• Shaila Suthe and Devi Rame Mamava by Mysore Vasudevachar
• Gowri Sukumari by N.C.Krishnamacharyulu
• Manadhai Orumai by Chidambara Nataraja Deekshithar

Film Songs

Language:Tamil

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Vasantha Ruthu	Sivakavi	Papanasam Sivan	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Vandanam Vandanam	Vazhvey Maayam	Gangai Amaran	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Azhagiya Thirumugam	Brammacharigal	M. S. Viswanathan
Mani Osai Enna Sollutho	Naalum Therinthavan(1983)		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. Janaki
Santhanam Poosum	Thudikkum Karangal	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Karmegam Oorgolam Pogum	Kalamellam Un Madiyil	Chandrabose
Rojaavai Thaalaattum Thendral (More Ragam Panthuvarali touches)	Ninaivellam Nithya	Illayaraja
Andhimazhai pozhigirathu	Raja Parvai
Maan Kanden	Raja Rishi		K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Nil Nil Nil pathil sol	Paattu Padava		Illayaraja, Uma Ramanan
Iravil Irandu Paravaigal(With raga Bhagyashree touches)	Soundaryame Varuga Varuga	Vijaya Bhaskar	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam, P. Susheela, Jolly Abraham
Minsara Poove	Padayappa	A. R. Rahman	Srinivas, Nithyashree Mahadevan & Palakkad Sreeram
Vaa Kanmani	Rasathi Varum Naal		Vijay Anand	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Unnale Nenjam Raagam	En Pottukku Sonthakkaran	Deva	Mano,K. S. Chithra
Kanden Kanden	Pirivom Santhippom	Vidyasagar	Karthik, Shweta Mohan
Thaaye Enge	Anandhapurathu Veedu	Ramesh Krishna	Balaram

Language:Malayalam

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Sundari sundari	Aye Auto	Raveendran	M. G. Sreekumar
Parama purusha	Swathi Thirunal	M. B. Sreenivasan	K. J. Yesudas
Guruvayoor unnikannane	Aanachandam	Jaison Nair	Madhu Balakrishnan

Related ragas

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

Scale similarities

• Lalitha is a popular raga that sounds very similar to Vasantha.^[1][2] Lalitha uses shuddha rishabham in ārohaṇa also,^[2] while the shuddha dhaivatam is used in it, compared to chatusruti dhaivatam in Vasantha.^[1]

Notes

1. Alternate notations:

   • Hindustani: S G M D N Ṡ
   • Western: C E F A B C
2. Alternate notations:

   • Hindustani: Ṡ N D M G Ṟ S
   • Western: C B A F E D♭ C