Chalanata (pronounced chalanāta) is arāgam inCarnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 36thMelakarta rāgam in the 72melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is one of the few rāgams referred by the same name inMuthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.[1]
It is the 6th rāgam in the 6th chakraRutu. The mnemonic name isRutu-Sha. The mnemonic phrase issa ru gu ma pa dhu nu.[2] Itsārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (seeswaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
The notes used in this scale areshadjam, shatsruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shatsruthi dhaivatham andkakali nishadham. As it is amelakarta rāgam, by definition it is asampurna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is theshuddha madhyamam equivalent ofRasikapriya, which is the 72nd (last)melakarta.
Chalanāta (also pronouncedChalanāttai) has two popularjanya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, namelyNāta (Nāttai) andGhambheeranāta (Gambheeranāttai).Nāta ragam compositions are sung often in concerts and it overshadowsChalanāta.[3] SeeList of Janya Rāgams for list ofjanya rāgams associated withChalanāta.
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Chalanata's notes when shifted usingGraha bhedam, yields a majorMelakarta rāgamShubhapantuvarali.Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting theshadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration referGraha bhedam on Chalanata.
