Curated from the Web, Ragas in Film Songs

Indian Film Songs in Kharahara Priya

October 10, 2010

Kharaharapriya (Sanskrit: खरहरप्रिया, Tamil: கரகரப்பிரியா) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 22nd melakarta rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. Kharaharapriya has a distinct melody and brings out the Karuna rasam, invoking pathos in the listeners. The Kafi thaat of Hindustani music is the equivalent of Kharaharapriya.

There are many theories behind the etymology of the name Kharaharapriya. The most popular interpretation of the name is “Loved (priya) by the slayer (hara) of demon Khara”.

It is 4th rāgam in the 4th chakra Veda. The mnemonic name is Veda-Bhu. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gi ma pa dhi ni. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

ārohaṇa : S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S
avarohaṇa : S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S

Due to the even spacing of swaras, many janya rāgams (derived scales) are associated with Kharaharapriya. It is one of the melakarta scales that has a large number of janya rāgams. Many of the janya rāgams are very popular on their own, lending themselves to elaboration and interpretation. Some of them are Abheri, Abhogi, Bhimplaas (Hindustani music), Brindavana Saranga, Kāpi, Madhyamavathi, Mukhari, Reetigowla,Shree, Udayaravichandrika, Shivaranjani and Sriranjani.

See List of janya rāgams for full list of scales associated with Kharaharapriya.

(Source: wikipedia)

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Indian Film Songs in Kharahara Priya