Abheri
Abheri is a raga in Carnatic music. It is a Janya raga, whose Melakarta raga is Kharaharapriya, 22nd in the 72 Melakarta raga system.
Bhimpalasi and Dhanashree of Hindustani music sounds close to Abheri.
Structure and Lakshana
Abheri is an audava-sampoorna Raga. Its structure is as follows :- [Arohana|] :
- [Avarohana|] :
There are some differing views on swaras in the scale of Abheri. It is considered a Bhashanga raga, with introduction of Suddha Dhiavatham in some phrases of the raga. A different view is that this raga is a janya of Natabhairavi, with D2 being the anya swara.
The original Abheri had Shuddha Dhaivatam and not Chathushruthi Dhaivatham in the Avarohanam, making it a Janya of Natabhairavi and not Kharaharapriya but was changed due to influences of Hindustani Bhimpalasi into the present form. R. Vedavalli sings the version of Nagumomu with Shuddha Dhaivatam. Today only one Muthuswami Dikshitar Krithi called Veenabheri and Kandha Vandharul of Papanasam Sivan are sung in the original. In fact, all books published before 1960 classify it as a Natabhairavi Janya. Syama Sastri's Ninnuvina Marigalada rendered in Reethigowla was originally composed in the old Abheri with D1. This has been rendered by Vedavalli too. In the 1st half of the 20th century, Nagumomu was also sung with D1 till it changed. It makes sense to sing Nagumomu with D1 as Thyagarajaswami pleads to Rama to not torment him so it gives a more melancholic mood.
In fact, there are 2 separate versions of Abheri which possess D1:
1. The one used by Thyagarajaswami has N2 in Arohanam
Aro: S G2 M1 P N2 S
Av: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S
2. Dikshitar's version has no N2 in Arohanam. He also uses Vakra Prayoga S M1 G2 M1. S G2 M1 and P N2 S Prayogas are not allowed in his variant. N2 S is allowed, perhaps in a P S N2 S Prayoga.
Aro: S M1 G2 M1 P P S S
Av: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S
The current version of this Raga is closer to Bageshri as for Bageshri Gandharam is sung softly. Thus a subtle difference of Gandhara makes a listener to feel this raga as Bageshri.
Popular compositions
- Nagumomu Ganaleni By Thyagaraja
- Nanda Gopala by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
- Bhajare Re Manasa, Gokula Nilaya Kripalaya By Mysore Vasudevacharya
- Kandha Muruga Varuvaye, a Popular Bhajanai by Pithukuli Murugadas
- Muraliya Nadava keli, Karevaru Ba Manege By Vidyaprasanna Teertha in Kannada
- Ambiga Naa Ninna Nambide, Echarike Echarike, Katiyalli Karavittano By Purandara Dasa
- Pavamana Jagada Prana By Vijaya Dasa
- Angaladolu Ramanadida - one of the greatest literary works of Kanaka Dasa which tells about the Desire of little Rama
- Veral Veli from Sandham: Symphony Meets Classical Tamil by Composer Rajan written by Kapilar
- Vinabheri By Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Kandha Vandharul by Papanasam Sivan
- Eshwari Rajeshwari By Muthiah Bhagavatar
Film songs
Language: [Hindi]
Note that the following songs are tuned in Raag Bhimpalasi, the Hindustani equivalent of Abheri.Popular Classical Albums on this Raagam
An excellent rendition of this Raaga can be found in one of L. Shankar Albums Raga Aberi. He received a Grammy Nomination for this composition.Related rāgams
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.Abheri's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other janya rāgams, namely, Mohanakalyani, Kedaragaula and Arabhi. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. In case of Janya ragams, only notes that occur in both ascending and descending scale are taken for this change. For further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam refer Graha bhedam on Sankarabharanam. Abheri has close resemblance to Karnataka—devagandhari and Bhimpalasi. Whether they are essentially same is a matter of debate among the musicologists.