Ahiri

Ahiri (pronounced āhiri) is a rāgam in Carnatic music. It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), and associated with the 14th melakarta scale Vakulabharanam. It has also been associated with the 8th melakarta scale Hanumatodi. Though it has all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending and descending scale, the presence of zig-zag notes (vakra swaras) makes it a janya rāgam.

Ahiri is an ancient rāgam mentioned in Sangita Makarandha and Sangita samayasara. It is a difficult rāgam to master, but it is rewarding. The rāgam is synonymous with karuna rasa (compassion). It is considered an early-morning scale.

Structure and Lakshana

Ahiri is an asymmetric rāgam which has vakra swaras (zig-zag notes) in the ascending scale. It is a sampurna rāgam (containing all 7 notes). Several ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structures (ascending and descending scale) are assigned due to the usage of foreign notes (bhashanga prayogas):

• ārohaṇa : (also )
• avarohaṇa :

The notes used in this scale are shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, shuddha dhaivatam and kaisiki nishadham in the scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.

Since there is additional usage of external (foreign) notes, in comparison to its parent scale, it is considered a bhashanga rāgam. Notes Ri, Ga, Dha and Ni which are different from the parent scale are used in this scale and is considered to have lot of subtle srutis.

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to Ahiri rāgam. Here are some popular kritis composed in this rāgam.

• Challare Ramachandrunipai (Sompaina Manasutho), Etula Kaapaaduvo, Adaya Sri Raghuvara, Poola Paanpu composed by Tyagaraja
• Veeksheham Katha and Jaya Jaya Durge by Narayana Teertha
• Mayamma Anine by Syama Sastri
• Sri Kamalaambaa Jayathi and Kusumaakara Vimaanarudaam by Muthuswamy Dikshitar
• Panimathi Mukhi Bale(a Malayalam Padam), Parama Purusha Nanu and Pannagendra Shaya by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
• Virahampu Vedaaya, Entha Mohamo and Ennallu Nedanundeno by Annamacharya
• Oorilen by Subhashini Parthasarathy
• Ethinay Nallamma by Balakrishnan
• Ninne Kori-Ata Tala Varnam by Tharangambadi Panchanada Iyer
• Dheenarakshaka by Tanjore Quartet
• Kathitha Samayepi(Ashtapadi) by Jayadeva
• Mosamaye(Padam), Enthatathella(Padam) and E Riti Vegintune(Padam) by Kshetrayya
• Samayamide Annai by Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
• Anbagavanthu, Nadithedi, Adhirunkazhal and Aankudal are Thiruppugazhs by Arunagirinathar
• Arindene Unnai by Arasi(Rajee Krishnan)
• Paingottu Malar by Thirugnanasambandar
• Aavi Nee Amudham Neeye by Kannadasan
• Abhayamo is a song of unknown composer
• Adhiviravil En Munne by H H Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

Film Songs

Language:Tamil and Malayalam

A popular Hindi film song in Ahiri Ragam is - Ay Chand Teri Chandni Ki Kasam from the movie Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, composed by Ismail Darbar and sung by Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik

Popular Malayalam film songs in Ahiri Ragam are Pazhanthamil from the movie Manichitrathazhu, and chempakappoonkattile from rathinirvedam

Notes

References