• Raag Madhuranjani •

S-g-m-P-N-S


The name ‘Madhuranjani’ is used in reference to several distinct forms. The best-known incarnation is based on the SgmPNS swara set of ‘Dhani shuddha Ni’ (or ‘Patdeep no Re/Dha’) – as exemplified by vocalists such as Abhirang, Sawani Shende, and Jitendra Abhisheki, who also includes flourishes of shuddha Re in avroh. Some suggest that the raga’s origins lie in the Carnatic Shrotaswini, possibly borrowed North by Abhisheki, while others claim it as a creation of either Ravi Shankar or Imrat Khan – although neither of these artists seems to have recorded any raga by this name or precise swara set (n.b. alternate forms bearing the ‘Madhuranjani’ title are also in circulation, e.g. Shankar’s student Shalil Shankar‘s ‘Madhuvanti + Shivranjani’ blend [SRgMPDS]: with the same jod pairing also linked to another Ravi disciple, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, under the title ‘Vishwaranjani’). Also refer to a recent rendition by Mewati vocalist Aarshin Karande, dedicated to Abhisheki (“this bandish beautifully captures [his] gift for balancing melody, rhythm, literature, and emotion…this raga lends itself easily to emotional anxiety, intense devotion, and romanticism…The [lyrics] reflect on the all-consuming, ecstatic stupor of playing Holi with Lord Krishna and friends”).


Raga Masterlist (1000+) •
राग मधुरंजनी
Search | Glossary | Tags
Hindustani Raga Index •

BlackLineNARROWER

—Sawani Shende (2021)—


[bandish, e.g. 4:13] (m)P gmPS N P, PmP (m)gmP; gSg mg Pm NP S(NSNSNPN) P(NPNmP) gm(S)P; (m)P gmPS N

Support open-access, AI-free raga musicology by joining my new PATREON. And to learn raga & filmi tunes on guitar, get started with some online lessons! Currently accepting Zoom students
• Recent Raga Index Updates (Apr 2026): Up to 365 Megalist pages! Recent adds include AsaBayatiDeepavali, Chanchalas Malhar, DoGa KalyanGaud, Japaniya, KaushikiLatangi, Loom, Maru, Meerabai Malhar, Palas, Sarangkauns, Shankh Dhwani, Shivanjali, Sohini Bahar (+ try out ‘Audav Meladalan‘) • What does ‘Kauns’ mean? Analysing 60+ Kauns ragas Bifurcations‘: ‘poorvang vs. uttarang’ splits • Amir Khan’s ‘168 merukhands’ • Introduced the ‘complements‘ concept • Experiments (e.g. overtonal Bhairav, jazz Malkauns) • Survey of Sa Tunings • More Masterlist ragas (1000+)

BlackLineNARROWER

• 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

Thaat: 10 | 32Enclosed | Inexact

Chal: All-shuddha | All-komal | Ma-tivra

Gaps: Anh. | Hemi. | 3-row | 4-row | 5-row


Aroha: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna

Avroh: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna

Jati: Equal | Balanced | Av.+1 | Av.+2

Samay: Morning | Aftern. | Eve. | Night

Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball

Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern

Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang

Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.

BlackLineNARROWER

• Prakriti: (none found)
Also see other ragas matching the generic swarasSa-Ga-Ma-Pa-Ni

BlackLineNARROWER

–Swara Geometries–

Core form: SgmPNS
Reverse: SrmPDS
Complement: SrRGMdDnS
Imperfect: 3 (ga, Pa, Ni)
Detached: 2 (ga, Ni)
Symmetries: none
Murchanas: Devshri (on ma)

BlackLineNARROWER

–Global Translations–

Carnatic: ~Gambheera Nattai
S-G2-M1-P-N3-S
Jazz: Minor Pentatonic (♮7th)
1-b3-4-5-7-8
Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-3-5-7-11-0
(3–2–2–4–1)

o • • o • o • o • • • o o


BlackLineNARROWER

• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Madhuranjani, Madhuranjanee
• Transliterations: Hindi (मधुरंजनी)

BlackLineNARROWER

—Jitendra Abhisheki (1980s)—

BlackLineNARROWER

 

• ‘Guitaragas’ | My Music •
See more raga-guitar on my Instagram

Learn ragas & filmi on guitar! •

Share these ragas! My site is 100% reliant on organic visitors – send this page to fellow sonic searchers!

Join my PATREON!

The Raga Index will always remain open-access & ad-free: however, this approach doesn’t pay the bills! I put as much into these resources as time and finances allow – so, to hasten the project’s expansion, you can:

Support the Raga Index! •

—Riyaz-focused notations & bandish—
—Resurrecting rare and ancient ragas—
—Further melodic & geometric analysis—
—Ensuring that high-quality raga knowledge will remain open to all, at no cost: free from commercial motive!—

 

Hindustani Raga Index

An open-ended project seeking to bring North Indian raga closer to all who approach with open ears. Combines direct input from dozens of leading Hindustani artists with in-depth insights from music history, global theory, performance practice, cognitive science, and much more besides!

Masterlist (1000+ ragas)
Search: Find your new favourite •
Tags: Classifying the ragascape •
Glossary: Raga jargon demystified
Murchanas: Swara-set rotations •
Thaat: Bhatkhande’s base scales •
Bifurcations: Poorvangs/uttarangs •
Ragatable: Analytical connections
Kaunsis: Listing 60+ Kauns ragas •
Tanpuras: Divine overtonal drones •
Quotes: Musings from raga artists •
Talas: Hindustani rhythm cycles •
Instruments: Singing sculptures
¡Random Raga!

—Search the Raga Index—

(NEW: search by swaras/varjits)

Feedback / Contact •

George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Homepage for more, and hit me up for Lessons!

Projects & articles: full list •

(Get in touch for Zoom lessons!)

my site is ad-free, AI-free, & open-access