S-R-G-m-P-D-nN-S
A seldom-heard neighbour of Khambavati, distinguished (often very subtly) by stronger use of shuddha ma, and sometimes involving a Gm\S catchphrase. Both ni swaras are used, with the komal introduced via vakra avroh motions (e.g. SRn). Named after a huge evergreen tree species with fragrant yellow-orange flowers, used in perfumery and featured in many myths and legends from Indian history (including a famous tale of a dishonest champak: “Sage Narada went back to the tree and cursed it for lying. He said that its flowers must never again be used in the worship of Lord Shiva…and also cursed the Brahmin, saying that he would be reborn as a demon…”).
• Raga Megalist (365+) •
Search | Glossary | Tags
• Hindustani Raga Index •
—Narayanrao Vyas (~1960s)—
[refrain, e.g. 0:01] PmGS Rm, m(Gm)PD m(Gm)G, PmGS Rm, m(P)G (R)S, S(nDnDP)S, SRG(RS), SRG RGm m(PmP)G(R), PmGS Rm…
• More •
Histories, melodies, mythologies, etc…
—Imagery: Champak flowers—
“These beautiful trees have many common names: champak, champaca, michelia, golden champa, joy perfume tree, banana shrub, white sandalwood, and white jade flower. The derivation of ‘shampoo’ is the Hindi word ‘champo’ (to massage), from the Sanskrit ‘champa’ – as the tree was traditionally used to make fragrant hair and massage oils. It yields finely textured, dark brown and olive-colored wood, and certain groves are considered sacred. The white champaca hybrid (magnolia-alba) is prized for its pure white flowers, which are floated in water bowls as Buddhist temple offerings…” (Matt Ritter)
• Classifiers •
Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see the Full Tag List):
Swaras: -4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10+
Sapta: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Poorvang: SRGM | SRG | SRM | SGM
Uttarang: PDNS | PDS | PNS | DNS
Varjit: Re | Ga | Ma | Pa | Dha | Ni
Double: rR | gG | mM | dD | nN
Thaat: 10 | 32 | Enclosed | Inexact
Chal: All-shuddha | All-komal | Ma-tivra
Gaps: Anh. | Hemi. | 3-row | 4-row | 5-row
Symmetries: Mirror | Rotation | Palindr.
Aroha: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Avroh: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Jati: Equal | Balanced | Av.+1 | Av.+2
Samay: Morning | Aftern. | Eve. | Night
Murchana: Bhup. | Bihag | Bilaw. | Charu.
Raganga: Bhairav | Malhar | Kan. | Todi
Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball
Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern
Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang
Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.
• Prakriti: Desh, Des Malhar, Alhaiya Bilawal, Devgiri Bilawal, Kukubh Bilawal, Bihagara, Bihagda, Nat Kamod, Gaud Malhar, Sorath, Arun Malhar, Tilak Malhar
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–R–G–m–P–D–nN–S
• Reverse: SrRgmPdnS (=Gandhari)
• Negative: 5-2-3-2
• Imperfect: 1 (Ni)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (Gm—nN)
• Murchanas: Bihag set
• Quirks: ‘maximal‘ (swaras are optimally ‘spread out’)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Balahamsa
S-R2-G3-M1-P-D2-N2-N3-S
• Jazz: Bebop Dominant
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-5-7-9-10-11-0
(2–2–1–2–2–1–1–1)
o • o • o o • o • o o o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Champak, Campak
—Roshan & Ghulam Abbas Khan (2021)—