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Hamsadhwani

Janya of Sankarābharaṇam (29)

Festive, opening; pentatonic

Venkatamakhin ṛāgaṅga· Dikshitar kriti tradition

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Ārōhaṇa (ascending)

  1. S
  2. R₂
  3. G₃
  4. P
  5. N₃

Avarōhaṇa (descending)

  1. N₃
  2. P
  3. G₃
  4. R₂
  5. S

Signature phrase

S R₂ G₃ P N₃ Ṡ

The pakad (catch-phrase) is the 4-8 svara motif that defines this raga's identity. Internalise this phrase first — it's what your ear reaches for when the raga returns to its home base.

Rāga grammar

Vādi (king svara)
P
Samvādi (queen svara)
S
Jīva (life-giving)
R₂ P N₃
Nyāsa (resting)
S P N₃
Graha (phrase-starting)
S R₂ P

When to play

THE opening raga of Carnatic concerts. Always rendered first after the varṇam to invoke Lord Ganesha and bless the program. Also used for quick kīrtanas and bhajans.

Time: Conventionally morning; bright, optimistic any time.Rasa: Śānta, bhakti — also auspiciousness and joyful readiness.Position: opening

Gamaka signature

Clean, bright, minimal oscillation — the raga 'sparkles' through its symmetric R-G-P-D tetrachord. Hold G and P steady; R and N are lightly oscillated.

Historical context

Created by Rāmaswāmi Dīkṣitar (1735-1817) in 1790 — the most recent 'major' raga in the Carnatic system. The only Dīkṣitar kṛti in this raga besides Vātāpi Gaṇapatim is Pārvati Patim. Performed first in concerts per Amy Catlin's 1991 documentation of Chennai music.

Key compositions to hear first

  • Vātāpi Gaṇapatim Bhajēham — Muttuswāmi Dīkṣitar
  • Pārvati Patim — Muttuswāmi Dīkṣitar
  • Raghunāyaka — Tyāgarāja

Listen to Hamsadhwani

Arōhaṇa-avarōhaṇa exposition with tampura drone.

Kṛtis in this rāga· 5 entries across 4 composers

Tip: open the raga × composer cross-search on /composers to explore any other raga.

Sangeet Parijat — Ahobala's notes

Graha (opening)
Sa
Aṁśa (king svara)
Pa
Nyāsa (rest svara)
Sa
Time
After 3rd prahara
Gīti
Śuddhā
Gamaka
sphurita

An audava pentatonic with bright Ni. Modern evening raga.

Compose in this ragaPractice this raga

Similar ragas

Top 5 by mūrchhanā + aṁśa + nyāsa + graha + gītī overlap. Match score shown.

Hamsadhwani — Karunattu