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Arabhi orAarabhi (pronounced ārabhi) is aragam (musical scale) inCarnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is aJanya raga (derived scale), whoseMelakarta raga (parent scale, also known asjanaka) isShankarabharanam, 29th in the 72Melakarta raga system. It is a combination of the pentatonic scaleShuddha Saveri (orDurga inHindustani Music) and thesampurna raga scaleShankarabharanam.

Arabhi is araga that dates back to 7 AD. Originally, it was called aspazhanthakkam in Ancient Tamil music^{[citation needed]}. A very auspicious ragam that emanatesVeera rasa (valour), Arabhi is one of the fiveGhana ragams that shine with special brilliance whenThanam is played onVeena.^[1]

Itsārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (seeswaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• ārohaṇa :S R₂ M₁ P D₂ Ṡ[a]
• avarohaṇa :Ṡ N₃ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S[b]

Arabhi raga is anOwdava-sampoorna raga meaning, 5swaras occur in thearohana (so it is calledOwdava) and inavarohana allswaras occur (sosampoorna).

It is a raga without muchgamakas and frequency variations, relying instead on flat notes. The important point is the swara "ga" always comes very close to "ma" so when we sing the phrase "ma ga ri" it sounds like "ma ma ri". Likewise the swara "ni" always comes very close to the swara "sa" hence when we sing the phrase "sa ni da" it sounds like "sa sa da".^{[citation needed]}

The closest raga to this one isDevagandhari. There are few aspects which make Arabhi different (though both share the same ascending and desce

1. InArabhi the swara "ga" is close to "ma" but inDevagandhari it is not the same.
2. The swara "ri" is not fluctuated inArabhi but it is given "asaivu" inDevagandhari
3. The phrase "pa ma da sa" should not be sung inArabhi, as it is exclusive forDevagandhari
4. Devagandhari is sung withgamakas andvilambita kala prayogas (usages with elongated notes)^[2]
5. Devagandhari is sung withdeergha gandharam (elongated G3)^[2]

Arabhi raga is a very energetic and it lends itself to creativity inbrigas (fast-paced swara usages) more thangamakas.

The 3rd ofPancharatna Kritis (five gems of compositions),Sadhinchanaeby SaintThyagaraja is a famous composition set in Arabhi raga. Here we can note that Thyagaraja uses phrases like "sa sa da" in the charanam although there are phrases like "sa ni da" also.

Here are some more compositions set to Arabhi.

The PopularOnam composition "Maveli Naadu Vaneedum Kaalam" is popularized, and taught in this raga.

• Dr. P.Venkatraman's Page - Arabhi Raga Basics
• CAC Newsletter-Comparing Arabhi and Devagandhari
• Compositions at karnatik.com

• Janya ragas

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