Janya


Janya is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic music a janya raga is one derived from one of the 72 melakarta ragas. Janya ragas are classified into various types based on a variety of features.

''Varja'' ragas

Ragas that omit one or more of the notes of the scale of their parent melakarta raga, in the ascending or descending scale or in both, fall into this category. Different notes may be omitted from the ascending arohana and descending avarohana scale. Such scales are given the names listed below.
vrja a
  • Sampurna – 7 note scale
  • Shadava – 6 notes
  • Audava – 5 notes
Since these terms are applicable both to the ascending and the descending scale, ragas can be classified as Audava-Sampurna – 5 notes in ' and 7 in the ' – Shadava-Sampurna – 6 notes in ' and 7 in the ', as in Kambhoji raga and so forth.
Sampurna-Sampurna ragas are not necessarily Melakarta because they may use notes not in the parent scale or vakra prayoga, a "zig-zag" scale instead of sequential ascent and descent). Such ragas are termed vakra ragas. Examples are Nalinakanti, Kathanakuthuhalam, Darbaru, Jana Ranjani and Kedaram. See full List of Janya Ragas for more examples.
  • Nalinakanti – ' S G3 R2 M1 P N3 S, ' S N3 P M1 G3 R2 S
  • Kathanakuthuhalam – ' S R2 M1 D2 N3 G3 P S, ' S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

    ''Upanga/Bhashanga'' ragas

Upanga ragas are strictly derived from their parent melakarta raga and do not use any note not found in the parent raga's scale. Examples of upanga ragas are Shuddha Saveri, Udayaravichandrika and Mohanakalyani. Bhashanga ragas have anya swara in their or both. Examples of Bhashanga ragas are Kambhoji, Bhairavi, Bilahari, Saranga, Behag and Kāpi.

Single octave

Some janya ragas are sung in only one octave. Moreover, the highest note is not the shadjam, at which the base sruthi of a performance is set. The classifications in this category are as follows.
  • Nishadantya – highest note is the nishadam
example Nadanamakriya derived from Mayamalavagowla scale
  • Dhaivathantya – highest note is the dhaivatham
example Kurinji derived from Shankarabharanam scale
  • Panchamantya – highest note is the panchamam
example ''Navaroj''

''Karnataka/Desya'' ragas

Karnataka ragas are those that are considered to have originated in Carnatic music. Examples are Shankarabharanam, Lalitha and Shuddha Saveri.
Desya ragas are those ragas that have their origins in other music, majority of them originating in Hindustani music. Examples are Yamunakalyani, Desh, Behag and Sindhu Bhairavi.

Other classifications

There are various other classifications of janya ragas. These are based on relationships with other ragas, presence of gamakas, stresses on notes or lack of them, the time of day when a raga is sung, rasa or mood that they evoke, etc.