Varāḷi
Janya of Kāmavardhinī (51) — same scale family as Pantuvarāḷi
Fiery, majestic, one of the five Ghana-rāgas
Venkatamakhin ṛāgaṅga· Dikshitar kriti tradition
✓ Verified against kriti-notation.ts verified pallavi (Tillaisthanam paramparā ms.); shruti-engine.ts Kāmavardhinī cents table· 2026-07-02How we verify
Ārōhaṇa (ascending)
- S
- R₁
- G₃
- M₁
- M₂
- P
- D₁
- N₃
- Ṡ
Avarōhaṇa (descending)
- Ṡ
- N₃
- D₁
- P
- M₂
- M₁
- G₃
- R₁
- S
Signature phrase
S R₁ M₁ G₃ M₂ P D₁ 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.
When to play
Pañcaratna-kriti performance, or as a weighty main raga. Best for slow alapana with intense gamaka work on Ri and Dha.
Gamaka signature
Ri and Dha are heavily oscillated. The phrase S R M P D M G R — and the descent phrase D M G R S — are the signatures. Tanam is the showcase format.
Historical context
One of the ghana-pañcaka (five ragas most suited to the veena-tanam style). Among the most ancient Carnatic ragas, dating back over 1,000 years per the Wikipedia entry on the Pañcaratna Kritis. The śruti interval for the R₂ ↔ G₃ relationship is unusual (dvi-śruti for R, tri-śruti for G). Hosts fiery dance-like compositions.
Key compositions to hear first
- Kanakana Rucirā — Tyāgarāja (Pañcaratna #4)
- Siddhi Vāgīśa — Muttuswāmi Dīkṣitar (Rāgamālika)
- Varāḷi Varnam — Kothavāḷ Veṅkaṭēśvara Ayyar
Listen to Varāḷi
Arōhaṇa-avarōhaṇa exposition with tampura drone.
Kṛtis in this rāga· 1 entry across 1 composer
TyāgarājaCarnatic Trinity (Tri-mūrti) — the foundational period · 1 kṛti
- Kanakana Ruchirā · Ādi Tāla · 82 BPM
Tip: open the raga × composer cross-search on /composers to explore any other raga.
Similar ragas
No Parijat notes for this raga yet — the catalog covers 77 of 81 living ragas.