Punnagavarali, a raga in Carnatic Music, is a derived scale from Hanumatodi, which is the 8th melakarta Raga in the 72 melakarta system.
Moorchana:
- ArOhaNam: N₂ S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂
- avarOhaNAm: N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₁ S N₂
Swarasthanas:
The notes include kaisiki nishada, sadja, suddha rishabha, sadharana gandhara, suddha madhyama, panchama and suddha dhaivata
Punnagavarali is a nishadantya raga (starts and ends in a single octave, nishada to nishada) and is hence usually presented in the madhyama sruti.
Takes Kakali Ni and Chatussruti ri as foreign notes.
In the ascent the chatusruti rishabha also occurs, sometimes. The raga’s regal presence is best felt in slow phrases.
Punnagavarali raga is associated with karuna rasa and snakes (naga means snake). Snake charmers play this scale.
In wedding ceremonies, a piece called the Odam usually played at the muhurtam, is often in Punnagavarali. This is an ancient raga and traditional Tamil pieces such as Nondichindu are also set in this.
Folk melodies exist in this raga.
Popular Compositions:
Some of the popular compositions are listed below.
- Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Ehi annapoorney set to Adi tala and Kamalambikaya sthavabhakthoham set to Rupakam tala
- Thyagaraja’s Utsava sampradaya kriti “Thavadhasoham”, and the Divyanama Sankeertanas- “Gandhamu Puyyaruga” and “Dasaradha Nandana”
- Syama Sastri’s Kankashaila Viharini and Brovasamayamu
- Papanasam Sivan’s “Shiva Ganga Nagaranivasini”
- Agastya’s 2nd line of “Sri Chakra Raja”
