Vagadheeswari

Vagadheeshwari scale with shadjam at C

It is the 4th rāgam in the 6th chakra Rutu. The mnemonic name is Rutu-Bhu. The mnemonic phrase is sa ru gu ma pa dhi ni.[1] 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 R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₃ S[lower-alpha 2]

The swaras shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham are used in this scale. As Vagadheeshwari is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Nasikabhooshani, which is the 70th melakarta scale.

Vagadheeshwari has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Magadhi and Mohanāngi are occasionally heard. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with Vagadheeswari.

Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Vagadheeshwari.

• Varna Vagadheeshwari Raga SudheyoLu... by Sri. C Honnappa Bhagavatar, a Kannada theatre artist, film actor, producer, composer and singer.
• Nanninda Naane Janisi By Kanakadasa
• Paramatmudu by Thyagaraja
• Bhogachhaaye Naatakapriye by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Vani Vagadheeshwari
• Pranamaamyaham by Balamuralikrishna
• vAgadheeswari saradE T. Sreenidhi
• Kamala Nayana Jagadeeshwara a composition of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
• Nadanu Santhana a composition of Koteeswara Iyer

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

Vagadheeshwari's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 other minor melakarta rāgams, namely, Naganandini and Bhavapriya. 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 further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Naganandini.