Vachaspati (raga)


Vachaspati is a rāgam in Carnatic music. It is the 64th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. It is known as Bhushāvati according to the Muthuswami Dikshitar school. It was borrowed into Hindustani music, like many other ragas from Carnatic rāgams.

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 4th rāgam in the 11th chakra Rudra. The mnemonic name is Rudra-Bhu. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri gu mi pa dhi ni. Its structure is as follows :
  • [Arohana|]:
  • [Avarohana|]:
This scales uses the notes and. It is a sampoorna rāgam - a rāgam that has all seven swaras. It is the equivalent of Harikambhoji, which is the 28th scale.

''Janya'' rāgams

It has many janya rāgams associated with it, out of which Bhooshavali and Saraswathi are popular. See List of janya rāgams for all scales associated with Vachaspati.

Popular compositions

Vachaspati is close to Kalyani and differs only in the nishādham. Still, this rāgam does not have many compositions. At the same time many composers have used this rāgam for composing 1 song each.
Popular compositions in this rāgam are

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.
Vachaspati's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 3 other major melakarta rāgams, namely, Charukesi, Gourimanohari and Natakapriya. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam of Vachaspati.
Vachaspati corresponds to the Acoustic scale in Western music.