Some Similarities in Hindustani And Carnatic Ragas

  Ragas that came from north India into Carnatic music

A lover of Hindustani music is surprised to find some similar Ragas while listening to Carnatic music. Though the presentation differs, the notes attract the listeners since they spread known fragrances.

Pandit Muttuswami Dixit lived in Varanasi to learn the Vedas. There he learnt Hindustani Ragas and blended them with his Sanskaaras in Carnatic music. Well known among them are Ramkali, Dwijawanti (Jayajaywanti), Desitodi, Mahuri, Hameerkalyani, Yamunakalyani and he practiced them on Saraswati Veena.

Before him, the Ragas like Saarang, Paraj, Bihag, Navaroj, Hejujji, Kalingada, Abhiri, Ahiri, Husseni, Kafi, Jhinjhoti etc. had been absorbed into Carnatic music during Sant Purandara Dasa’s period.

Shri Tyagaraja composed his music in Ragas like Kafi, Shudh Desi, Saindhavi, Jangala and many others. The Ragas like Marwa, Pahadi, Gunakri (Gunakali), Poorvi were also modified to suit the rendering in Carnatic style.

 

Let us see which Ragas share both the stages.

 

Dwijawanti, Yamunakalyani, Hamirkalyani, Kafi, Khamaj, Bihag, Darbari Kanhara, Sindhu Bhairavi, Revati (Bairagi), Bageshri, Shankrandanapriya (Shivaranjani), Brindawani Saarang, Bheempalasi, Jaunpuri, Tilang, Maand, Gandhari (Chandrakans), Jangala, Gaud Malhar, Husseni, Aahiri, Paraj are some of these Ragas. Though they bear similar names, they have their own flavour and differ greatly from their Hindustani origin.

 

It is interesting to note some similar/ equivalent Ragas and Thaats in Hindustani and Carnatic style

Hindustani	Carnatic
Abhogi Kanhara Adana Ahir Bhairav Alhaiya Bilawal       Arabhi Malhar  Asawari (Thaat)	Abhogi Athaana Chakrawaka Bilahari Saama Poorva Aabheri
Bageshri Bairagi Bhairav Bhairav (Thaat) Bhairavi (Thaat)   Bheempalasi     Bhoopali Bihag Bihagada	Shree Ranjini Revati Maya Malavgaula Hanumatodi   Aabheri, Vajrakanti, Sindhu Dhanyasi, Dev Gandhari Mohanam Behag (Byaagu) Begada
Des   Dhaani Durga Dhanashree	Kedargaula (with Teevra Ni)   Udayaravichandriaka (Shudha Dhanyasi) Shudh Saaveri (Poorva Devakriya) Dhanyasi
Hamsadhwani Hindol Husseni Kanhara	Hamsadhwani Sarvavinodini Husseni
Gunakali (Gunakri)	Latantapriya (Shudh Saaveri)
Janasamohini     Jayjaywanti Jeevanpuri Jog Jogiya	Sandarshini (bhavaabharani, Hamsavinodini)   Dwijawanti (Joojawanti) Naagagandhari Naata Saaveri
Kafi Kalawati Kalingada Kalyan (Thaat)	Hindustani Kafi Valaji Kalgada Kalyani
Lalit Lanka Dahan Sarang Latika	Lalita Shree Latangi
Madhuwanti Madhumaad Saarang Malkans	Dharmawati Madhyamavati (Madhumadhavi) Hindolam
Naag Ranjani	Kalyan Vasanta
Patdeep Poorvi (Thaat)	Gauri Manohari Kamavardhini
Rageshri	Naatkuranji (Ravichandrika)
Saarang Brindawani Shivaranjani Shahana Kanhara Sindhoora Shudh Kalyan Sundar Kans	Brindawana Saaranga Sankrandanapriya Kaanada Salaga Bhairavi Mohan Kalyani Jayantashree
Todi (Thaat)	Shubhapantuvarali

 Hindustani Thaats And Carnatic Melakartas

No.	Thaat	Melakarta	Mela No.
1	Bhairavi	Hanumatodi	8
2	Bhairav	Mayamalavgaula	15
3	Asavari	Natabhairavi	20
4	Kafi	Kharaharapriya	22
5	Khamaj	Harikambodhi	28
6	Bilawal	Dheerashankarabharana	29
7	Todi	Shubhapantuvarali	45
8	Poorvi	Kamavardhini	51
9	Marwa	Gamanashrama	53
10	Kalyan	Mechakalyani	65

 Source: Sangeettha Lalithya Lahari, Bangalore S. Mukund