Dhanyasi

Dhanyasi is a rāgam in Carnatic music. It is a janya rāgam from the 8th melakarta scale Hanumatodi. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras in the ascending scale. It is a combination of the pentatonic scale Shuddha Dhanyasi and the sampurna raga scale Hanumatodi.
This is the common and popular scale and is used for portraying the bhakthi rasa. According to the Muthuswami Dikshitar school, Dhanyasi is derived from Nariritigaula Melakarta scale, instead of Hanumatodi scale and includes Chathushruthi Rishabham in the Avarohanam.

Structure and Lakshana

Dhanyasi is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain rishabham or dhaivatam in the ascending scale. It is an audava-sampurna rāgam. Its structure is as follows:

[Arohana|] :
[Avarohana|] :

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam and kaishiki nishadham in ascending scale, with shuddha dhaivatam and shuddha rishabham included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.
The rāgam used by Dikshitar school of music uses chathusruti rishabham in the descending scale, in place of shuddha rishabham, bringing it under the 20th melakarta Natabhairavi.

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to Dhanyasi rāgam.

Sangeetha Gnanamu, Shyama Sundaranga, Sri Rama Dasa Dasoham ''Janaki Nayaka, Ramabhirama Manasu, Endhu Bayara, Dhyaname Varamaina and Nee Chitthamu composed by Tyagaraja
Kalayami Sriramam, Kulirmathi Vadane, Prana Nayaka and Ha Hanta Vanchitaham by Swati Tirunal. Bhogindra Shayinam was originally in Dhanyasi but tuned to Kuntalavarali later by G. N. Balasubramaniam.
Japa Kusuma by Muthiah Bhagavatar
Chudamanikanda and Kondale Swami Modhiram by Arunachala Kavi
Nammina Varini Mosamu and Rama Daya Joodave by Bhadrachala Ramadas
Dasara Nindisabeda and Karunakara Neenembuvudyatako by Purandara Dasa
Karunakara Paramporule by Vedanayagam Pillai
Vani Arul Purivai, Balakrishnan Padamalar and Nee Indha Mayam by Papanasam Sivan
Sri Ranganathaya Namasthe, Paradevathe, Vedapureeshwaram Bhajare, Mangala Devataya, Ramachandradanyam and Mayuranatham Anisham by Muthuswamy Dikshitar
Meenalochana Brova by Shyama Sastri
Kanulara Kantini by Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavathar
Ye Maguva by Mysore Sadashiva Rao
Nenarunchi Nannelukora and Kaapaadu Gananaatha by Tiruvottriyur Tyagayyar
Nikhila Loka Nayaki by T. K. Govinda Rao
Naa Moraalakinchi by Veena Kuppayyar
Nee Daya Ledani by Spencer Venugopal
Ithanai Thulambaramai and Kaanaamal Vinile by Muthu Thandavar
Icchina Manchidhe by Sarangapani
Kanaka Sabhapathi and Thiruvathirai Darishanathirkku by Gopalakrishna Bharathi
Dalachinavaru by Subbaraya Sastri
Padmini Vallabha by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
Paruvam Paarkka Nyaayamaa by Anai Ayya
Ethanai Koti Inbam by Bharathiyar
Sathyam Eeshwaram by Thripunithura Poornathrayee Jayaprakash
Sharadambam Dayanidhe by Yogi Nareyana
Kali Theerave and a Tillana by Chithravina N. Ravikiran
Keezhvaanam by Andal, tuned by Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar
Chalu Nee Vaiyyaramu-composed on Chamarajendra [Wadiyar X|Chamarajendra Wadiyar] by Pattabhiramayya
Nyaayamu Gadhura by Mannargudi Sambasiva Bhagavatar
Neeraja Nayana'' by Paidala Gurumurti Sastri

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Graha Bhedam

Salaga Bhairavi can be derived from Dhanyasi when sung from Nishadam to Nishadam.

Scale similarities

Udayaravichandrika, also known as Shuddha Dhanyasi has a symmetric pentatonic scale, with the notes same as the ascending scale of Dhanyasi. Its ' structure is S G1 M1 P N1 S' : S' N1 P M1 G1 S
Dhanyasi scale as per Dikshitar school uses Chathushruthi rishabham in descending scale but is classified as a 20th melakartha janya ragam by Venkatamakhi. Its ' structure is S G2 M1 P N2 S' : S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S'