Gaula (raga)

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.

For other uses, see Gaula.

Gaula
ArohanamS R₁ M₁ P N₃ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₃ P M₁ R₁ G₃ M₁ R₁ S
Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

Gaula is an ancient rāgam mentioned in Sangita Ratnakara, Sangita Makarandha and Sangita samayasara.[1][2] It is an auspicious rāgam, which is mostly sung in the early part of the concert.[1] It is a popular rāgam and also a ghana rāgam.[2]

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).[1][2] 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:

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, ekasruti rishabham (also known as Gaula rishabham[1]), 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.

There are many compositions set to Gaula rāgam. Here are some popular kritis composed in this rāgam.

Film Songs

Language:Tamil
Song Movie Composer Singer
Santhana Kudamondru Navagraha Nayagi M. S. Viswanathan Rajkumar Bharathi, Vani Jairam
Vedham Nee Koyil Puraa Ilaiyaraaja K.J. Yesudas

Notes
  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S Ṟ M P N Ṡ
    • Western: C D♭ F G B C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ N P M Ṟ G M Ṟ S
    • Western: C B G F D♭ E F D♭ C

References
  1. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
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