Graha bhedam

Graha Bhedam in Carnatic music is the process (or result of the process) of shifting the Tonic note (śruti) to another note in the rāgam and arriving at a different rāgam.

Graha literally means position and Bhedam means change. Since the position of the śruti is changed (pitch of the drone), it is also sometimes called Swara Bhedam or Śruti Bhedam though Śruti Bhedam and Graha Bhedam have some technical differences.[1]

Definition

Modal shift of the Tonic note to higher notes of a rāgam, while retaining the note's positions (swara sthānas – sthāna means position/ pitch), results in different rāgams. This is called Graha Bhedam.

Practical demo

A simple practical demonstration of Graha Bhedam can be taken up by playing the structure of a rāgam with the drone set to Sa (Shadjamam). Then if we keep playing the same keys/ notes, while shifting the drone to another note in the rāgam, to form the new śruti/ tonic note, the result is a different rāgam.

Example Illustration

When Graha bhedam is applied on Shankarabharanam's notes, it yields 5 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, Kalyani, Hanumatodi, Natabhairavi, Kharaharapriya and Harikambhoji.

Rāgam Mela # Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
Shankarabharanam 29 C S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S' R2' G3' M1' P' D2' N3' S' '
Karaharapriya 22 D S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S'
Hanumatodi 08 E S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N2 S'
Kalyani 65 F S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S'
Harikambhoji 28 G S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S'
Natabhairavi 20 A S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N2 S'
Invalid Melakarta B S R1 G2 M1 M2 D1 N2 S'
Shankarabharanam 29 C S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S' R2' G3'M1' P' D2' N3'S' '

Notes on above table

Melakarta Rāgams

Graha Bhedam can be applied on most Melakarta rāgams to yield other Melakarta rāgams (16 of the 72 do not yield any valid Melakarta scale). When applying such modal shift of tonic note, some results are not valid Melakarta rāgams (rules of the definition of Melakarta are violated). Example scenarios are missing Panchamam (Pa) or two of particular note (Rishabham (Ri), Gandharam (Ga), Madhyamam (Ma), Dhaivatam (Da) or Nishadam (Ni)).

Shankarabharanam

See Example Illustration in previous section.

Kanakangi

The Graha Bhedam derivative of Kanakangi is Kamavardhini and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D
Kanakangi 01 S R1 G1 M1 P D1 N1 S' R1' G1'
Kamavardhini 51 SR1 G3 M2 PD1 N3 S'

Mayamalavagowla

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Mayamalavagowla are Rasikapriya and Simhendramadhyamam.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Mayamalavagowla 15 S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S' R1' G3' M1'
Rasikapriya 72 S R3G3 M2 P D3N3 S'
Simhendramadhyamam 57 S R2G2 M2 P D1 N3 S'

Ragavardhini

The Graha Bhedam derivative of Ragavardhini is Varunapriya and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Ragavardhini 32 S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N2 S' R3' G3' M1'
Varunapriya 24 S R2G2 M1 P D3 N3 S'

Vachaspati

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Vachaspati are Charukesi, Gourimanohari and Natakapriya.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F G A
Vachaspati 64 S R2 G3 M2 P D2 N2 S' R2' G3' M2' P' D2'
Charukesi 26 S R2 G3M1 PD1 N2 S'
Gourimanohari 23 S R2G2 M1 P D2 N3 S'
Natakapriya 10 SR1 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S'

Shanmukhapriya

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Shanmukhapriya are Shoolini, Dhenuka and Chitrambari.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F G A
Shanmukhapriya 56 S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N2 S' R2' G2' M2' P' D1'
Shoolini 35 S R3G3M1 P D2 N3 S'
Dhenuka 09 SR1 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S'
Chitrambari 66 S R2 G3 M2 P D3 N3 S'

Keeravani

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Keeravani are Hemavati, Vakulabharanam and Kosalam.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F G A
Keeravani 21 S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S' R2' G2' M1' P' D1'
Hemavati 58 S R2G2 M2 P D2 N2 S'
Vakulabharanam 14 SR1 G3M1 P D1 N2 S'
Kosalam 71 S R3G3 M2 P D2 N3 S'

Ratnangi

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Ratnangi are Gamanashrama and Jhankaradhwani.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Ratnangi 02 S R1 G1 M1 P D1 N2 S' R1' G1' M1'
Gamanashrama 53 SR1 G3 M2 P D2 N3 S'
Jhankaradhwani 19 S R2G2 M1 P D1N1 S'

Ganamurti

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Ganamurti are Vishwambari and Shamalangi.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Ganamurti 03 S R1 G1 M1 P D1 N3 S' R1' G1' M1'
Vishwambari 54 SR1 G3 M2 P D3N3 S'
Shamalangi 55 S R2G2 M2 P D1N1 S'

Vanaspati

The Graha Bhedam derivative of Vanaspati is Mararanjani and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Vanaspati 04 S R1 G1 M1 P D2 N2 S' R1' G1' M1'
Mararanjani 25 S R2 G3M1 P D1N1 S'

Manavati

The Graha Bhedam derivative of Manavati is Kantamani and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Manavati 05 S R1 G1 M1 P D2 N3 S' R1' G1' M1'
Kantamani 61 S R2 G3 M2 P D1N1 S'

Sooryakantam

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Sooryakantam are Senavati and Latangi.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Sooryakantam 17 S R1 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S' R1' G3' M1'
Senavati 07 SR1 G2 M1 PD1 N1 S'
Latangi 63 S R2 G3 M2 P D1 N3 S'

Kokilapriya

The Graha Bhedam derivative of Kokilapriya is Rishabhapriya and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Kokilapriya 11 S R1 G2 M1 P D2 N3 S' R1' G2' M1'
Rishabhapriya 62 S R2 G3 M2 P D1 N2 S'

Gayakapriya

The Graha Bhedam derivative of Gayakapriya is Dhatuvardani and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D
Gayakapriya 13 S R1 G3 M1 P D1 N1 S' R1'
Dhatuvardani 69 S R3G3 M2 PD1 N3 S'

Dharmavati

The Graha Bhedam derivatives of Dharmavati are Chakravakam and Sarasangi.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F G
Dharmavati 59 S R2 G2 M2 P D2 N3 S' R2' G2' M2' P'
Chakravakam16 SR1 G3M1 P D2N2 S'
Sarasangi 27 S R2 G3M1 P D1 N3 S'

Hatakambari

The Graha Bhedam derivative of Hatakambari is Gavambhodi and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Hatakambari 18 S R1 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S' R1' G3' M1'
Gavambhodi 43 SR1 G2 M2PD1 N1 S'

Naganandini

The graha bhedam derivatives of Naganandini are Bhavapriya and Vagadheeshwari.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F G
Naganandini 30 S R2 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S' R2' G3' M1' P'
Bhavapriya 44 SR1 G2 M2PD1 N2 S'
Vagadheeshwari34 S R3G3M1 P D2N2 S'

Gangeyabhooshani

The graha bhedam derivative of Gangeyabhooshani is Neetimati and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E F
Gangeyabhooshani 33 S R3 G3 M1 P D1 N3 S' R3' G3' M1'
Neetimati 60 S R2G2 M2P D3N3 S'

Chalanata

The graha bhedam derivative of Chalanata is Shubhapantuvarali and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E
Chalanata 36 S R3 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S' R3' G3'
Shubhapantuvarali 45 SR1 G2 M2 PD1 N3S'

Shadvidamargini

The graha bhedam derivative of Shadvidamargini is Nasikabhooshani and vice versa.

Rāgam Mela # C D E F G A B C D E
Shadvidamargini 46 S R1 G2 M2 P D2 N2 S' R1' G2'
Nasikabhooshani 70 S R3G3 M2 P D2N2 S'

Janya rāgams

Graha bhedam can be applied to some of the janya rāgams to yield other janya rāgams. Unlike Melakarta rāgams, where strict rules are adhered to, in terms of which swaras can be chosen in a rāgam, janya rāgams do not have such rules. Hence, such modal shift of tonic note is valid on all swaras, but may not have been chosen as a rāgam, experimented, elaborated and composed. Hence they lead to theoretical rāgams, which have not yet been discovered (all combinations of notes exist, but no one has composed using a particular combination or experimented/ exposed to the world at large).

Mohanam

Mohanam rāgam and its graha bhedam derivatives are one of the key scales in use all over the world, especially East and South Asia. The other four derivatives are Hindolam, Shuddha Saveri, Udayaravichandrika (also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi) and Madhyamavathi.

Rāgam Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C
Mohanam C S R2 G3 P D2 S' R2' G3' P' D2' S' '
Madhyamavati D S R2 M1 P N2 S'
Hindolam E S G2 M1 D1 N2 S'
Shuddha Saveri G S R2 M1 P D2 S'
Udayaravichandrika A S G2 M1 P N2 S'
Mohanam C S R2 G3 P D2 S'

Notes on above table

Shivaranjani

Shivaranjani rāgam and its Graha Bhedam derivatives are Revati and Sunadavinodini.

Rāgam Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C D
Shivaranjani C S R2 G2 P D2 S' R2' G2'
Revati D SR1 M1 P N2 S'
Sunadavinodini D# S G3 M2 D2 N3 S'

Notes on above table

Hamsadhwani

Hamsadhwani rāgam and its graha bhedam derivative is Nagasvaravali.

Rāgam Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C D EF G
Hamsadhwani C S R2 G3 P N3 S' R2' G3' P'
Nagasvaravali G S G3M1 P D2 S'

Abhogi

Abhogi rāgam and its graha bhedam derivative is Valaji.

Rāgam Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C D EF
Abhogi C S R2 G2 M1 D2 S' R2' G2' M1'
Kalāsāveri D S R1 G2 P N2 S'R1' G2'
Valaji F S G3 P D2N2 S'

Amritavarshini

Amritavarshini rāgam and its graha bhedam derivative is Karnataka Shuddha Saveri.

Rāgam Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C D EF
Karnataka Shuddha Saveri C S R1 M1 P D1 S' R1' M1'
Amritavarshini C# S G3 M2 P N3 S' G3'

Gambhiranata

Gambhiranata rāgam and its graha bhedam derivative is Bhupalam.

Rāgam Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C D EF
Gambhiranata C S G3 M1 P N3 S' G3' M1'
Bhupalam E S R1 G2 P D1 S1 R1'

See also

References

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