Sucharitra

Sucharitra is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 67th melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is considered an unattractive raga and is rarely performed. It is called Santāna manjari in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1][2]

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
Sucharitra
ArohanamS R₃ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₁ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₁ D₁ P M₂ G₃ R₃ S

Structure and Lakshana
Sucharitra scale with shadjam at C

It is the 1st rāgam in the 12th chakra Aditya. The mnemonic name is Aditya-Pa. The mnemonic phrase is sa ru gu mi pa dha na.[3] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

The swaras used in this scale are shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and shuddha nishadham. Sucharitra, being a melakarta rāgam, by definition is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Yagapriya, which is the 31st melakarta scale.[3]

Janya rāgams

Sucharitra currently has no janya rāgam (derived scale) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for those janyas associated with other melakarta rāgams.

Compositions

Sucharitra scale has been used for the following compositions:

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

Sucharitra's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, does not yield any other melakarta rāgam. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam.

Notes
  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S G̱ G M̄ P Ḏ D Ṡ
    • Western: C D♯ E F♯ G A♭ Bdouble flat C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ D Ḏ P M̄ G G̱ S
    • Western: C Bdouble flat A♭ G F♯ E D♯ C

References
  1. Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal by Vidwan A Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
  2. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  3. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
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