Khamas (raga)

Parent scale Harikambhoji with shadjam at C

Khamas is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain rishabham in the ascending scale. It is a vakra-shadava-sampurna rāgam (vakra-shadava, meaning 6 notes in ascending scale with zig-zag moves).[1][2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

• ārohaṇa : S M₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ[lower-alpha 1]
• avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S[lower-alpha 2]

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadham in ascending scale, with chathusruthi rishabham included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.

Originally, Khamas was an upanga raga (uses only the notes in the parent scale). Later with the usage in javalis and other later compositions, the bhashanga type of Khamas came into use (using notes external to the scale).[1] Kakali nishadam (N3) is introduced as anya swara (external note) occasionally.[1]

According to Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music, Khamas is a sampurna raga with no zig-zag notes (no vakra usage).[1][2]

Khamāj (खमाज) of Hindustani Music closely resembles Khamas raga. The Hindi film song ‘Tere Mere Milan Ki’ from the movie Abhimaan is based on Khamaj.[3]

There are many compositions set to Khamas rāgam. Here are some popular kritis composed in this ragam.

• Mate malaya-dhvaja pandya-sanjate by Muthiah Bhagavatar
• Santana-gopala krishnam, shadanane sakalam arpayami and Sarasa Dala Nayana by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Sujana jeevana and Seethapathe composed by Tyagaraja
• Manasa Ramuni Maravakave by Venkataramana Bhagavatar
• Dooru Maduvarene, Mooruthiyanu niliso By Purandara Dasa
• Maatada Baradeno By Bangalore Nagarathnamma
• Rama jogi mandu, Ivela Nannu brovara and Rama rara by Bhadrachala Ramadasu
• Entaninne by Subbarama Dikshitar
• Broche vaarevaru ra and Intha paraakaelanayya by Mysore Vasudevachar, whose use of N3 in his compositions in this raga is particularly noteworthy.
• Idathu padam thookki and Rama nama amrutha by Papanasam Sivan
• Tham Tham Tham - Thillana by Patnam Subramania Iyer
• Dholayam chala Dholayam chala by Annamacharya
• Upendram ashrayami santatam by Mysore Vasudevacharya
• Shambho mahadeva chandrachuda by Parameswara Bhagavatar
• Saraswati sarasa-vani sarasija-bhavunikki-rani by Varadadasar
• Sarasa-sama-mukha, palaya mamayi bho shrikanthesha by Swathi Tirunal
• Jayati jayati bharata-mata by Mayuram Vishvanatha shastri