Ravi Shankar performs Madhuvanti at the Shiraz Arts Festival in Iran in the 1970s

Madhuvanti is the name of a raga used in Indian classical music. It is a Hindustani music raga, which is reported to have been borrowed into Carnatic music, and is structurally similar to Multani.

It is a romantic raga based on the foundation, eternity and colors of love. Madhu literally means honey. It is a very sweet raga with a very simple philosophy of love and romance.

[edit] Hindustani music

Madhuvanti's notes are S G1 M2 P N2 while ascending and all the swaras, S N2 D2 P M2 G1 R2 S, in the descent. (notations M2 - tivra, and for rest 1 is komal and 2 is shuddha).

[edit] Carnatic music

Madhuvanti is the janya raga of the 59^th Melakarta of Carnatic Music, Dharmavati.

[edit] Structure and Lakshana

Dharmavati scale with Shadjam at C used as avarohana in Madhuvanti

Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

• ārohaṇa: S G2 M2 P N3 S
• avarohaṇa: S N3 D2 P M2 G2 R2 S

The notes used are Chathusruthi Rishabham (R2), Sadharana Gandharam (G2), Prati Madhyamam (M2), Chathusruthi Dhaivatham (D2) and Kakali Nishadham (N3)^[1][2] (notations of Carnatic music and Hindustani music differ a little bit - see swaras in Carnatic music for details on above notation and terms). It is an audava-sampurna rāgam (5 notes in ascending and all 7 notes in descending scale).

[edit] Compositions

Madhuvanti is a very melodious raga. This raga has been used to compose many tukadas (short compositions sung towards end of Carnatic music concert).

It has also been used in Indian movie songs and music as it lends itself to lilting melodies.

[edit] References

1. ^ Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
2. ^ Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras