From: tmohan@iastate.edu (Thyagarajan Mohan)
Subject: Re: Melakarta system (was Re: Koteeswara Iyer's krithis in all melakarta) ragams
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 03:00:06 GMT

In article <1dmjiqINNmfo@gap.caltech.edu> cco.caltech.edu!vidya (Vidyasankar Sundaresan) writes:

>The introduction by TSP is correct. Though the Melakarta system is  
>popularly attributed to Venkatamakhi, it was Govinda Dikshita who refined  
>the structure and made the system in use today. (Something like  
>Mendeleev's periodic table in chemistry!
>
>Thyagaraja seems to have followed the Govinda system as seen by his kritis  
>in these melas. Some other famous ragas where the names in the two systems  
>are different are (in some the arohana and avarohana are also different) -
>
>Venkatamakhi           Govinda Dikshita
>
>Kamavardhani           Pantuvarali
>Sumadyuti              Simhendramadhyamam
>Chamaram               Shanmukhapriya
>Hamsasimharavam        Hemavati
>Vegavahini             Chakravakam 
>
>
>
>S.Vidyasankar


         In the new system,PandhuvaraaLi is named as Kaamavardhani.The new 
MaeLa Chakra is given by Govindaachchaar,not Govinda Dikshithar.I think
Venkatamahi also strictly followed Katapayaadi Sankhya.For that reason,he also
called Kaedhaara GowLa as Harikaedhaara GowLa etc .As you rightly said,the 
`Periodic Table' pattern is given by Venkatamahi where the correct Swaras were
also indicated.For him all the seven notes should be present in the raga.They 
shouldn't be Bhaashaangam.

        The 58th maeLa was called as Daesi Simhaavaram,not Hamsa Simhaavaram
(sankhya).not only w.r.t MaeLakartha,his naming many other ragas are also 
different.Let me add on some thing.

Venkatamahi         Govindaachchaari
~~~~~~~~~~~         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poorvi KalyaaNi     Gamakakriya.
Daevagaandhaaram    KarNataka Daevagandhaari.(Now used as Aabhaeri.The original
                    Aabhaeri uses Sudhdha Dhaivatham,again that of Dikshithar,
                    `VeeNaaBhaeri').

Daevakriya          Sudhdha Saavaeri.

Siva PandhuvaraaLi  Subha PandhuvaraaLi

      Muthuswami Dikshitar should be aware of the new tradition.He used the 
name Haemavati in one of his songs as the `Raga Mudhra'

       The Janaka-Janya relation is also different in some cases.Accordingly,
Mohanam is the Janyam of KalyaaNi,aanandha Bhairavi is the Janyam of 20th MaeLa
Naareereethi GowLa.BhoopaLam used the Saadhaarana Gaandhaaram(Janyam of Thoedi)
The way of singing ragas are different.Brindhaavana Saaranga uses the rare 
touch of Gaandhaaram(Ranga Pura Vihaara).Senchurutti(Junjudi)began to use the 
Saadhaarana Gaandhaaram.Similarly,Kamaas began to use occasionally Kaakali  
Nishaadham.Many of these are followed even today.The Muthuswami Dikshithar 
School(Kallidaikkurichchi A.Sundaram Iyer)still uses some of these traditions.
He seemed to have adopted some styles existing in Hendhusthaani Music.If his
works are traced well,the origin of CarNatic Music and its styles may become 
clearer.
      He was the author of `Chathur Dhandi Prakasika'(I hope I'm not wrong this
time).His Raga LakshaNa Geetham,especially in Maayaa MaaLava GowLa is very 
famous.Later on,in a similar style,his son(!)Govinda Dikshithar Composed one in
SankaraabharaNam.

     More informations may be added on to this.Thanks.

MOHAN

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