Bahudari

Bahudari (pronounced bahudāri) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a derived scale (janya rāgam), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes), derived from the 28th Melakarta raga Harikambhoji.^[1]

Structure and Lakshana

Bahudari ascending scale with shadjam at C

Bahudari descending scale with shadjam at C

Bahudari is an asymmetric scale that does not contain rishabham. It is called a shadava-audava rāgam,^[1][2] in Carnatic music classification (as it has 6 notes in ascending and 5 notes in descending scale). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• ārohaṇa : S G3 M1 P D2 N2 S
• avarohaṇa : S N2 P M1 G3 S

This scale uses the notes shadjam, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadam.^[1][2]

Popular compositions

Bahudari is a melodious rāgam.^[1] Here are some popular compositions in Bahudari.

• Brova barama composed by Thyagaraja
• Marakoti sundari and Unnadiye gatiyendru by G. N. Balasubramaniam
• Sadananda tandavam seyyum by Achutadasar

References

1. 1 2 3 4 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
2. 1 2 Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras