Mukhari

Mukhari (pronounced mukhāri) is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāga of Kharaharapriya. An emotional raga, it can sound very sorrowful and introspective. And of course, devotional as well. To me, 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.

Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style tambura
Concepts
Śruti Svara Rāga Tāḷa Mēḷakarta Asaṃpūrṇa Mēḷakarta
Compositions
Gītaṃ Svarajati Varṇaṃ Kr̥ti Kīrtana Rāgaṃ Tānaṃ Pallavi Tillana
Instruments
Melody Sarasvati Vīṇā Veṇu Nādasvaraṃ Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā) Violin Percussion Mr̥daṅgaṃ Ghaṭaṃ Morsing Kanjira Thavil Drone Tambura Shruti box
Composers Glossary
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Structure and Lakshana

• Arohana: S R₂ M₁ P N₂ D₂ Ṡ^[a]
• Avarohana: Ṡ N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S^[b]

Popular Compositions

• Indu Enage Govinda by Raghavendra Swami (Also sung in Mukhari)
• Palisemma Muddu Sharade, Chitta Shuddhi illadava By Purandara Dasa
• Brahma Kadigina Padamu by Annamacharya
• Pahimaam Rathnachala by Muthuswami Dikshitar
• Entaninne by Tyagaraja
• Ksheenamai by Tyagaraja
• Karubaru Cheyuvaru by Tyagaraja
• Elavatara by Tyagaraja
• Sangeeta Sastra by Tyagaraja
• Talachi Nantane by Tyagaraja
• Muripemu by Tyagaraja
• Endraikku Siva Krupai by Neelakanta Sivan
• Emani Ne by Subbaraya Sastri
• Ososi Namadi by Kshetrayya
• Dasaratha Rama by Bhadrachala Ramadasu
• Sivakama sundari by Papanasam Sivan^[1]
• Krishnam Kalaya by Narayana Teertha

Less-known Compositions

Anandam Anandam Anandame, which is played by the orchestra at a 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. Jalamika Valadhura is a very rare, short Swarajathi composed in the same raga.

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 ( shoka rasa ), 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 (ascent) and Suddha Dhaivata (descent), 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.

Film Songs

Language:Tamil

Notes

References