Vakulabharanam (pronounced ) is a rÃÂgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 14th melakarta rÃÂgam in the 72 melakarta rÃÂgam system of Carnatic music. It is called DhÃÂtivasantabhairavi or VÃÂtivasantabhairavi in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music. Hindustani equivalent of this ragam is raga basant mukhari
It is the 2nd rÃÂgam in the 3rd chakra Agni. The mnemonic name is Agni-Sri. The mnemonic phrase is sa ri ga ma pa dha ni. Its ' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
Shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham are the swaras used in this scale. As this scale is a melakarta rÃÂgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rÃÂgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of , which is the 50th melakarta scale.
VÃÂtivasantabhairavi is the 14th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same, but the descending scale has notes used in zig-zag manner (vakra prayoga).
Vakulabharanam has a few minor janya rÃÂgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Vasantabhairavi is heard occasionally in concerts. See List of janya rÃÂgams for full list of rÃÂgams associated with Vakulabharanam.
Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Vakulabharanam.
Ascending: S G3 M1 D1 N2 S
Descending:S N2 D1 M1 G3 S
This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rÃÂgam.
Vakulabharanam's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields 2 major melakarta rÃÂgams, namely Keeravani and Hemavati along with 1 minor melakarta rÃÂgam Kosalam. For further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Keeravani.
Vakulabharanam corresponds to Phrygian dominant scale in Western music.