Shubhapanthuvarali

It is a ragam known to portray emotions of grief; more famous through Dikshithar’s krithi “Sri Sathyanaranam upasmahe”.
45th melakartha raga, also called as Sivapanthuvarali, it is the 3rd raga in Vasu (8th) chakra.

The Aarohana and Avarohana of Shubhapanthuvarali is as below:

Aa: S R1 G2 M2 P D1 N3 S

Av: S N3 D1 P M2 G2 R1 S

Shadja, Shudda rishabham, Sadharana gandharam, Prathi madyamam, Panchamam, Shudda daivatham and Kakali nishadam contour the shubhapanthuvarali ragam.

The Hindustani ragam Gurjari todi, comes closest to Shubhapanthuvarali.Saint Thyagaraja’s Ennallu urake and Sri Muttuswamy Dikshitar’s Sri Sathyanaranam are two popular compositions in this ragam. The ragam offers a boundless scope of expansion.

Sadharana gandharam is a prominent swara and gliding through this gives the sorrow appeal which is the emotion of the Raga.
The swara pattern “Sa-Ri-Ga-Ri-Sa-Ri-Sa-Ni....Ni-Sa-Ga-Ri-Sa-Ri-Ni-Sa” which is famous as “modi” (Serpent music) falls under Shubhapanthuvarali swaras bound.


Mandara sthayi prayogas matter more in this raga.

This raga helps to activate the Swadishthan chakra that governs our attention which is crucial for effective meditation- claims shankar Ramani, Classical vocalist who relates music to spiritual awakening....


Shubhapanthuvarali raga known for its melancholy – could per se act in melting the trauma or tragedy of a listener demonstrates Music therapist Dr. T.V. Sairam on how a musical form representing a certain emotion could help destroying the very same emotion.


It has a host of janya ragas which aren’t very common and in vogue.
 

Bhānukeeravāni
S R1 G2 M2 P D1 N3 S |
S N3 D1 M2 G2 R1 S    ||

Chayaranjini
S G2 M2 P N2 S |
S N2 D1 P M2 G2 S ||

Jalakesari
S R1 M2 P D1 N3 S |
S D1 P M2 R1 S ||

The raga Shubhapanthuvarali is extensively employed in film background scoring as a raga of pathos.

More on sancharams:
G-M-D, D-M-G...-R....-R-G-R...-S...-S-R-S-N-D, S-R-G-R-S-N-D....P-P-PM-D.N-M-G-M-D-G-D-M are some sancharams.

Madarasthayi sancharams leaves the sorrow appeal.
Sa-Ri-Ga-Ri-Ri-Sa...Sa-Ni-da -in mandarasthayi - invokes grief
pa...pa-ma-ga-ma-da...da-ni-ma, ga-ma-da-ni-sa - madhyasthyai - composed state of mind
da-ni-sa-ri-ga-ri-ga-ma-ga....ri-sa-ni-da...da-ni-ri-ga-ma...pa..ma-ga...-ri-sa -tarasthayi - crave for compassion

By

Revathi S.
revathi.sridharan@gmail.com
The Author is a practicing vocalist in Carnatic music, currently receiving training and guidance from Sri.D.V.Nagarajan. Music has been more than just passion to her. She has consistently been giving vocal performances over the years. She is also a Graduate in Music Therapy from the prestigious “Nada Academy for Music”, Chennai.
On the professional front, she is currently a Lead Engineer in an MNC in Bangalore.