Amritavarshini

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music), created in the early nineteenth century by Muthuswami Dikshitar. It is an audava rāgam (meaning pentatonic scale) in which only five of the seven swaras (musical notes) are used. It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), fairly popular in Carnatic music. There is a belief that Amr̥tavarṣiṇi causes rain ( The name of the rāgam is derived from the Sanskrit words Amrita: meaning Nectar and Varshini: meaning one who causes a shower or rain, and hence the association with rain ), and that the Carnatic composer Muthuswami Dikshitar brought rain at Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu, India by singing his composition, Aanandaamrutakarshini amrutavarshini.[1][2]

For the Hindustani raga of the same name, see Amritvarshini (raga).

Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box
Amritavarshini
ArohanamS G₃ M₂ P N₃ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₃ P M₂ G₃ S

Structure and Lakshana
Amritavarshini scale with shadjam at C

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is a rāgam that does not contain rishabham and dhaivatam. It is a symmetric pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[1][2] in Carnatic music classification). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishādam)

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is considered a janya rāgam of Chitrambari, the 66th Melakarta rāgam, although it can be derived from other melakarta rāgams, such as Kalyani, Gamanashrama or Vishwambari, by dropping both rishabham and dhaivatam. There is another scale that has the same name but is less practiced in current performances. This scale is associated with the 39th melakarta Jhalavarali.[1][2]

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi rāgam lends itself for extensive elaboration and exploration due to the symmetric and pentatonic scale. It has many compositions in both classical music and film music. Here are some popular kritis and film music composed in Amr̥tavarṣiṇi.

In addition to these, Anni Mantramuli Inde Avahinchenu of Annamacharya has been set to music in the Amr̥tavarṣiṇi.

Film Songs

Language: Tamil
Song Movie Composer Singer
Azhagiya Megangal Ganga Gowri M. S. Viswanathan S. Janaki
Sivagami Ada Vandhaal Paattum Bharathamum T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Thoongadha Vizhigal Rendu Agni Natchathiram Illayaraja K.J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Kaathiruntha Malli Malli Mallu Vetti Minor P. Susheela
Mazhaikku Oru Devaney Sri Raghavendrar K. J. Yesudas
Ippothu Ena Thevai Makkal Aatchi Lekha
Vaanin Devi Varuga Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Kuthuvilakkaga Cooliekkaran T. Rajendar S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Puthiya Kalai Sasanam Balabarathi K.S. Chitra
Mella Sirithai Kalyana Samayal Saadham Arrora Haricharan, Chinmayi
Naanthana Naanthana Ninaithale Vijay Antony Sadhana Sargam, Rahul Nambiar
Yennuyire Annaatthe D. Imman K. S. Chithra(Female Version), Sid Sriram(Male Version)
Anney Yaaranney Udanpirappe Shreya Ghoshal
Nee Nee Anandhapurathu Veedu Ramesh Krishna Vineeth,Shweta Mohan,Rithika,Master Aryan

Language: Malayalam

Language: Kannada

Language: Telugu

Raga relationships

Graha bhēdham

Amritavarshini's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 1 popular pentatonic rāgam, Karnataka Shuddha Saveri. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Amr̥tavarṣiṇi.

Scale similarities
  • Hamsadhvani is a rāgam which has chatushruti rishabham in place of the prati madhyamam. See table below for more details
  • Gambhiranata is a rāgam which has shuddha madhyamam in place of the prati madhyamam. See table below for more details
RāgamŚruti
Tonic		CDEFGABC
Amr̥tavarṣiṇiCSG₃M₂PN₃Ṡ
HamsadhvaniCSR₂G₃PN₃Ṡ
GambhiranataC S G₃ M₁ P N₃ Ṡ

See also

Notes
  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S G M̄ P N Ṡ
    • Western: C E F♯ G B C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ N P M̄ G S
    • Western: C B G F♯ E C

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