Amritavarshini

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is a

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]

Structure and Lakshana

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is a rāgam that does not contain rishabham and dhaivatam. It is a symmetric pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam

swaras in Carnatic music

for details on below notation and terms):

ārohaṇa : S G₃ M₂ P N₃ Ṡ^[a]
avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₃ P M₂ G₃ S^[b]

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

Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is considered a janya rāgam of

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]

Arohanam and Arohanam for Amritavarshini with tambura

Popular compositions

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.

Ennai Nee Maravate of Dandapani Desikar
Sarasiruhanayane of Thyagaraja (usually said misattributed)
Sarasijaasani of Muthuswami Dikshitar
Vani Parama Kalyani By Vadiraja Tirtha
Eesabeku Iddu By Purandara Dasa
Aanandaamrutakarshini amritavarshini of Muthuswami Dikshitar (The most popular song sung today in Amritavarshini)
Aadi Varuvai Guhane of Punitasri
Siddhi Nayakena of M. Balamuralikrishna
Sthirata Nahi Nahi Re of Sadashiva Brahmendra
Aadinateppadiyo Nadanam, anonymous
Sudhamayee Sudhanidi by Muthiah Bhagavatar

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(s)
Azhagiya Megangal	Ganga Gowri	M. S. Viswanathan	S. Janaki
Sivagami Ada Vandhaal	Paattum Bharathamum	M. S. Viswanathan	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Thoongadha Vizhigal Rendu	Agni Natchathiram	Ilaiyaraaja	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	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	D. Imman	Shreya Ghoshal
Nee Nee	Anandhapurathu Veedu	Ramesh Krishna	Vineeth, Shweta Mohan, Rithika, Master Aryan

Language: Malayalam

Oru dalam matram from
M G Radhakrishnan
, sung by K.J. Yesudas
Manam pon Manam from
Raveendran
, sung by K.J. Yesudas
Aashadham padumbol from Mazha, composed by Raveendran, sung by K.J. Yesudas
Neela lohita hitakarini from Kaveri, composed by Ilayaraja, sung by M. Balamuralikrishna
Devi ni en pon veena nadam from Oru Mutham Mani Mutham, composed by Raveendran, sung by K.J. Yesudas
Anupallavi of Vilikkatirunnalum virunninettum from Ishtamanu Pakshe, composed by G. Devarajan, sung by K.J. Yesudas
Pallavi of Sharatkala megham from Dhruvasangamam, composed by Raveendran, sung by K.J. Yesudas
Parts of charanam in Kasturi Gandhikal from Sethubandhanam, composed by G. Devarajan, sung by Ayiroor Sadasivan
Pallavi of Aadi parashakti from Ponnapuram Kotta, composed by G. Devarajan, sung by P.B. Sreenivas and P. Leela

Language: Kannada

Cheluveya andada mogake from Devara Gudi, composed by Rajan–Nagendra, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Naguve snehada haadu from Mugdha Manava, composed by Vijaya Bhaskar, sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Chaitrada kusumanjali from Anandabhairavi, composed by Ramesh Naidu, sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam (anupallavi and charanam include other ragas too).
Charanam of Devaru beseda premada hara from Muttina Hara, composed by Hamsalekha, sung by M. Balamuralikrishna

Language: Telugu

Aanati neeyara hara from Swati Kiranam, composed by K.V. Mahadevan, sung by Vani Jayaram
Jeevana vahini, a ragamalika from Gangotri, composed by M.M. Keeravani, sung by M.M. Keeravani, Ganga, Kalpana and Srivardhini
Kurisenu Virijallule, from Gharshana (Old), composed by Ilaiyaraaja, sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam

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

Rāgam	Śruti Tonic	C	D	E	F		G	B	C
Amr̥tavarṣiṇi	C	S		G₃		M₂	P	N₃	Ṡ
Hamsadhvani	C	S	R₂	G₃			P	N₃	Ṡ
Gambhiranata	C	S		G₃	M₁		P	N₃	Ṡ

Notes

^
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: S G M̄ P N Ṡ
- Western: C E F♯ G B C
^
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: Ṡ N P M̄ G S
- Western: C B G F♯ E C

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
^ ^a ^b ^c Rāganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

[3] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: S G M̄ P N Ṡ
Western: C E F♯ G B C

[2] Hindustani: S G M̄ P N Ṡ

[3] Western: C E F♯ G B C

[4] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: Ṡ N P M̄ G S
Western: C B G F♯ E C

[5] Hindustani: Ṡ N P M̄ G S

[6] Western: C B G F♯ E C

[ragas-1] Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications

[raganidhi-2] Rāganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

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[2]

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