Khamas (raga)

Khamas
Arohanam	S M₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S

Khamas^[1]^[2] or Kamās/ Khamās /Khamāch/ Khamāj / Kamāchi (கமாச்) (ఖమాస్/కమాచి) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 28th melakarta scale Harikambhoji. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending scale.

It is a scale that evokes Shringara rasa.^[1]^[2] It is suitable for javali type compositions.^[2]

Structure and lakshana

Khamas is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain rishabham in the ascending scale. It is a vakra-shadava-sampurna rāgam (vakra-shadava, meaning 6 notes in ascending scale with zig-zag moves).^[1]^[2] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:

ārohaṇa : S M₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ^[a]
avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₂ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S^[b]

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

Alternate versions

Originally, Khamas was an upanga raga (uses only the notes in the parent scale). Later with the usage in javalis and other later compositions, the bhashanga type of Khamas came into use (using notes external to the scale).^[1] Kakali nishadam (N3) is introduced as anya swara (external note) occasionally.^[1]

According to Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music, Khamas is a sampurna raga with no zig-zag notes (no vakra usage).^[1]^[2]

Khamāj (खमाज) of Hindustani Music closely resembles Khamas raga. The Hindi film song ‘Tere Mere Milan Ki’ from the movie Abhimaan is based on Khamaj.^[3]

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to Khamas rāgam. Here are some popular kritis, thillanas and varnams composed in this ragam.

Mate malaya-dhvaja pandya-sanjate(Daru Varnam) by Muthiah Bhagavatar
Santana-gopala krishnam, shadanane sakalam arpayami and Sarasa Dala Nayana by Muthuswami Dikshitar
Sujana jeevana and Seethapathe composed by Tyagaraja
Manasa Ramuni Maravakave by Venkataramana Bhagavatar
Dooru Maduvarene, Mooruthiyanu niliso By Purandara Dasa
Maatada Baradeno By Bangalore Nagarathnamma
Rama jogi mandu, Ivela Nannu brovara and Rama rara by Bhadrachala Ramadasu
Entaninne by Subbarama Dikshitar
Broche vaarevaru ra and Intha paraakaelanayya by Mysore Vasudevachar, whose use of N3 in his compositions in this raga is particularly noteworthy.
Idathu padam thookki and Rama nama amrutha by Papanasam Sivan
Tham Tham Tham - Thillana by Patnam Subramania Iyer
Dholayam chala Dholayam chala by Annamacharya
Upendram ashrayami santatam by Mysore Vasudevacharya
Shambho mahadeva chandrachuda by Parameswara Bhagavatar
Saraswati sarasa-vani sarasija-bhavunikki-rani by Varadadasar
Sarasa-sama-mukha, palaya mamayi bho shrikanthesha by Swathi Tirunal
Jayati jayati bharata-mata by Mayuram Vishvanatha shastri

Film Compositions

Language:Tamil

Song	Movie	Composer	Singer
Orunaal Oru Pozhuthu	Thiruneelakantar	Papanasam Sivan	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Maanida Jenmam Meendum Vandhidumo	Raja Mukthi	C. R. Subburaman	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Naan Pesa Vanthen	Palloti Valartha Killi	Illayaraja	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Pallaviye Charanam	Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam
Roja Ondru Mutham(Karnataka Khamas Based)	Komberi Mookan
Margazhi Matham	Panjami(Unreleased Movie)		S. Janaki, T. V. Gopalakrishnan
Kootathilae Kovil Pura(Karnataka Khamas Based)	Idaya Kovil		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Ponnil Vaanam(Karnataka Khamas Based)	Villu Pattukaran		S. Janaki
Uyirum Neeye	Pavithra	A. R. Rahman	P. Unnikrishnan
Oru Naal Oru Pozhudu	Anthimanthaarai	A. R. Rahman	Swarnalatha
Poo Poovaa	Unnai Kann Theduthey	Deva	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Febi Mani
Sokka Naanum Nikkuren	Boat	Ghibran	Sudha Raghunathan

Notes

^
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: S M G M P D Ṉ Ṡ
- Western: C F E F G A B♭ C
^
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P M G R S
- Western: C B♭ A G F E D C

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
^ Hindustani music's equivalent of Khamas Raga

[3] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: S M G M P D Ṉ Ṡ
Western: C F E F G A B♭ C

[2] Hindustani: S M G M P D Ṉ Ṡ

[3] Western: C F E F G A B♭ C

[4] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P M G R S
Western: C B♭ A G F E D C

[5] Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P M G R S

[6] Western: C B♭ A G F E D C

[ragas-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications

[raganidhi-2] Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

[5] Hindustani music's equivalent of Khamas Raga

[1]

[2]

[a]

[b]

[3]

v t e Janya ragas
A-B	Abheri Abhogi Ahiri Amritavarshini Amritha Kalyani Anandabhairavi Andolika Arabhi Asaveri Atana Bageshri Bahudari Bhairavi Bhimsen Bhupalam Bilahari Bowli
D-J	Darbar Darbari Kanada Devagandhari Dhanyasi Gambhiranata Garudadhvani Gaula Hamsadhvani Hamsanadam Hamsanandi Hindolam Jana Ranjani Jaunpuri
K-L	Kalavati Kalyanavasantam Kambhoji Kāpi Karnataka Shuddha Saveri Kathanakuthuhalam Kedaragaula Kedaram Khamas Lalitha Lavangi
M	Mahati Madhuvanti Madhyamavati Malahari Malayamarutam Mohanakalyani Mohanam Mukhari
N-R	Nada Kalyani Nagasvaravali Nata Nattakurinji Navarasa kannada Niroshta Pharaju Poornachandrika Punnagavarali Ranjani Reethigowla Revagupti Revati
S	Sahana Salaga Bhairavi Saramati Saveri Shivaranjani Sri Tyagaraja Shree ragam Shree ranjani Shuddha Saveri Sindhu Bhairavi Sunadavinodini Surutti
T-V	Thyagaraja Mangalam Tilang Udayaravichandrika (Shuddha Dhanyasi) Valaji Varali Vasantha Yadukulakamboji Yamunakalyani
Carnatic music Swaras Melakarta ragas Asampurna Melakarta ragas List of Janya ragas