Mukhari

Mukhari is a rāga in Carnatic music. It is a janya rāga of Kharaharapriya. A strong raga, it can sound very sorrowful and introspective. And of course, devotional as well. It sounds best in a very slow speed, with each note and gamaka enunciated clearly. However, there are some crisper renditions of this raga which are also enjoyable. Some well known and often heard compositions are Sivakama Sundari by Papanasam Sivan, Sangeeta Shastra and Entani Ne by Tyagaraja, Emani Ne by Subbaraya Shastri, Arivar Yaar by Arunachala Kavi and Endraikku Shiva Krupai by Neelakanta Sivan.

Structure and Lakshana

Arohana:
Avarohana:

Popular Compositions

Era Napai by Patnam Subramania Iyer or Pallavi Doraiswamy Iyer Ninnukori by Mysore VasudevacharMadhirakshi by Veena Kuppayyar or Tiruvottriyur TyagayyarIndu Enage Govinda by Raghavendra Swami

Palisemma Muddu Sharade and Chitta Shuddhi Illadava By Purandara DasaBrahma Kadigina Padamu by AnnamacharyaPahimaam Rathnachala, Govindarajam Upasmahe and Ekamranathaya Namaste by Muthuswami DikshitarEntaninne, Ksheenamai, Karubaru Cheyuvaru, Elavatara, Chintistunnade, Indukayi Tanuvunu, Sarasiruhanana, Sangeeta Shastra, Talachi Nantane and Muripemu by TyagarajaEndraikku Siva Krupai by Neelakanta SivanSiva Gurunathanai by Kumara Ettendra Emani Ne by Subbaraya SastriOsosi Namadi and Akkaraleni Kapuramaye by KshetrayyaNa Moralanu Vini by Mysore VasudevacharEmandune Muddu Balamani by Dharmapuri SubbarayarDasaratha Rama by Bhadrachala RamadasuSivakama Sundari and Sharanam Ayyappa by Papanasam SivanKrishnam Kalaya by Narayana TeerthaPalimpavamma by Syama SastriVadasiyadi Kinchidapi by JayadevaEpudu Kripa Galguno by Patnam Subramania IyerBhavathi Vishwasome and Pahi Sada by Maharaja Swathi ThirunalAdimalar Irathanne by Irayimman ThampiArivar Yaar by Arunachala KaviJalamiga Valadura by an unknown composer

Less-known Compositions

Anandam Anandam Anandame, which is played by the orchestra at a Tamil Hindu wedding, immediately after the groom ties the mangalsutra on the bride's neck, evoking emotions of happiness and sorrow between the groom and bride's family members. Jalamiga Valadhura is a very rare, short Swarajati composed in the same Raga by an unknown composer in Telugu.

Meaning

A raga that is colourful, well-known and full of emotive appeal is Mukhari. This raga is often spoken of as a sorrowful raga, but in reality it also exudes bhakthi rasa and shanta rasa effectively. Mukhari’s allied ragas include Huseni, Bhairavi, Salagabhairavi, Kokilavarali and Maanji. Mukhari has to be enunciated with very precise swara positions and gamakas in order to achieve propriety, to avoid meandering into neighbouring pastures. The notes in Mukhari include Sadja, Chatusruti Rishabha, Suddha Madhyama, Pancama, Chatusruti Dhaivata and Suddha Dhaivata, and Kaisiki Nishada. The Sadharana Gandhara appears in the avarohana and is absent in the ascent. The important phrases in Mukhari include ‘SRM G, RS’ where the emphasis is on the Madhyama, and ‘PDSR’ where the Rishabha is emphasised. It is a special raga, full of melodic possibilities.