Abheri

Ascending scale with Shadjam at C

Descending scale with Shadjam at C

Abheri is an audava-sampoorna raga. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• ārohaṇa : S G₂ M₁ P N₂ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S[lower-alpha 2]

The swaras in this scale are Chathusruthi Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Chathusruthi Dhaivatham and Kaisiki Nishadham.

There are some differing views on swaras in the scale of Abheri. It is considered a Bhashanga raga (scale has an anya swara, that is, a note which is not in the parent melakarta raga, in this case Kharaharapriya raga), with introduction of Suddha Dhiavatham (D1) in some phrases of the raga.[1] A different view is that this raga is a janya of Natabhairavi (which has D1, suddha dhaivatham, in place of D2), with D2 being the anya swara (external note).[2]

This raga is closer to Bageshri as for Bhagyasree Gandharam is sung softly. Thus a subtle difference of Gandhara makes a listener to feel this raga as Bhagyasree.

• Nagumomu Ganaleni By Thyagaraja
• Bhajare Re Manasa, Gokula Nilaya Kripalaya By Mysore Vasudevacharya
• Muraliya Nadava keli, Karevaru Ba Manege By Vidyaprasanna Teertha in Kannada
• Ambiga Naa Ninna Nambide, Echarike Echarike, Katiyalli Karavittano By Purandara Dasa
• Pavamana Jagada Prana By Vijaya Dasa
• Angaladolu Ramanadida - (Normally sung in Bhimplasi style) one of the greatest literary works of Kanaka Dasa which tells about the Desire of little Rama
• Veral Veli from Sandham: Symphony Meets Classical Tamil by Composer Rajan written by Kapilar
• Vinabheri By Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Eshwari Rajeshwari By Muthaiah Bhagavatar

An excellent rendition of this Raaga can be found in one of L. Shankar Albums Raga Aberi. He received a Grammy Nomination for this composition.

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

Abheri's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other janya rāgams, namely, Mohanakalyani, Kedaragaula and Arabhi (if we consider the Kharaharapriya-based scale). Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. In case of Janya ragams, only notes that occur in both ascending and descending scale are taken for this change. For further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam refer Graha bhedam on Sankarabharanam. Abheri has close resemblance to Karnataka—devagandhari and Bhimpalasi. Whether they are essentially same is a matter of debate among the musicologists.

• List of Film Songs based on Ragas