Carnatic
Culture

GRAHABEDAM AND SYMMETRIES

 
Consider the 1st melakarta, Kanakaangi (Indu - Pa). It is represented by the sequence [111001011100(1)]. Note the symmetry between the lower and upper portions of the structure due to the repeating sequence 111001.This is an example of a class of symmetry, where the lower and upper portions (not exactly the purvangam and uttarangam, but close) of a raga have a similar structure. This characteristic is possessed by the following melakartas: Hanumathodi (Netra - Sri), Maayaamaalavagowla (Agni - Go), Kharaharapriya (Veda - Bhu), Dheerasankaraabharanam (Bana - Ma) and Chalanaata (Ruthu - Sha).The sixth melakarta Thaanaroopi (Indu - Sha) is denoted by the string [111001010011(1)]. The lower portion of this 111001 is the same as the upper portion 100111 written backwards. This means that the swara steps in the lower portion of the raga in the arohanam are similar to the swara steps in the upper portion in the avarohanam, or these ragas employ a similar swara step structure in the arohanam and avarohanam. This is another type of symmetry and the melakartas which possess this property are Thaanaroopi (Indu - Sha), Kokilapriya (Netra - Ma), Maayaamaalavagowla (Agni - Go), Kharaharapriya (Veda - Bhu), Chaarukesi (Bana - Sri) and Yaagapriya (Ruthu - Pa).

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About Grahabedam and Symmetries
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