Gaula or Gowla (pronounced gauḷa) is a rÃÂgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rÃÂgam (derived scale) from the 15th melakarta scale Mayamalavagowla. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending and descending scale.
Gaula is an ancient rÃÂgam mentioned in Sangita Ratnakara, Sangita Makarandha and Sangita samayasara. It is an auspicious rÃÂgam, which is mostly sung in the early part of the concert. It is a popular rÃÂgam and also a ghana rÃÂgam.
Gaula is an asymmetric rÃÂgam that does not contain dhaivatam in the scale and does not contain gandharam in the ascending scale. It is an audava-vakra-shadava rÃÂgam (or owdava, meaning pentatonic ascending scale). Vakra-shadava means that the descending scale has 6 notes with inclusion of zig-zag movements (vakra). Its ÃÂrohaá¹Âa-avarohaá¹Âa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:
The notes used in this scale are shadjam, ekasruti rishabham (also known as Gaula rishabham), shuddha madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishadham in ascending scale, with antara gandharam included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.
There are many compositions set to Gaula rÃÂgam. Here are some popular kritis composed in this rÃÂgam.