S. Mahadevan Veena Ragam Pooranchadrika Rupakamtalam

VEENA RECITAL: RAGA POORNACHANDRIKA | RUPAKA TALAM (7:46) Artiste: Shri S. Mahadevan (Saraswati Veena) Composition: "Ramachandra Pahi" | Composer: Maharaja Swathi Thirunal 🎵 CONCERT CREDITS: • Solo Veena: Shri S. Mahadevan (Saraswati Veena) • Mridangam (Acoustic double-headed drum): Sri Balakrishna Kamat • Ghatam (Resonant acoustic clay pot): Sri Vazhappally R. Krishnakumar • Raga: Poornachandrika (Derived from 29th Melakarta Dheerasankarabharanam) • Tala: Rupakam (3 Kriyas / 6 Aksharas: 2 + 4 counts per bar) • Composition / Bandish: "Ramachandra Pahi Satatam" (Sanskrit) • Composer: Maharaja Swathi Thirunal of Travancore (1813–1846) 🎼 1. SWAR (PITCH SYSTEM & SCALE ARCHITECTURE) Poornachandrika translates as "Luminescence of the Full Moon." It is built from the notes of the Major / Ionian mode (C D E F G A B C) but moves in a zig-zag ("vakra") melodic contour: • Ascending Scale (Arohana): S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₂ P Ṡ Solfège / Swara: Shadjam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Antara Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Chatusruti Dhaivatam, Panchamam, Upper Shadjam Western Degrees (Key of C): C - D - E - F - G - A - G - C' • Descending Scale (Avarohana): Ṡ N₃ P M₁ R₂ G₃ M₁ R₂ S Solfège / Swara: Upper Shadjam, Kakali Nishadham, Panchamam, Suddha Madhyamam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Antara Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Chatusruti Rishabham, Shadjam Western Degrees (Key of C): C' - B - G - F - D - E - F - D - C Key Characteristic Motifs (Catchphrases / Prayogas): • R - G - M - R - S (Iconic signature descent resolving smoothly to the tonic) • P - D - P - Ṡ (Skips the 7th degree on ascent) • Ṡ - N - P - M (Dramatic direct leap from the leading tone B to fifth G) 🪕 2. ALANKAR (ORNAMENTAL EXERCISES & GAMAKA DRILLS) Alankars form the melodic ornamentation and fret-shifting exercises of the Veena: Pattern 1 (Linear Step-Runs): S-R-G-M | R-G-M-P | G-M-P-D | P-D-P-Ṡ || Ṡ-N-P-M | N-P-M-R | P-M-R-G | M-R-S , || Pattern 2 (Double-Strike Speed Drills / Janta Alankar): S-S R-R G-G M-M | P-P D-D P-P Ṡ-Ṡ || Ṡ-Ṡ N-N P-P M-M | R-R G-G M-M R-R S-S || Pattern 3 (Veena Deflection / Kampita Gamaka Glide): P ~~~ D ~ P ~ Ṡ | Ṡ ~ N ~ P ~ M | R ~ G ~ M ~ R ~ S || 🥁 3. NOM-TOM / TANAM (RHYTHMIC PULSE & STRUMMING NOTATION) Nom-Tom (Hindustani) / Tanam (Carnatic) is the rhythmic, unmetered exposition. The Veena player articulates syllabic motifs using right-hand finger picks (Meetu): • Index finger downstroke: "TA" / "NOM" • Middle finger downstroke: "NAM" / "TOM" • Little finger upward brush on side drone strings (Tala Pakkasarani): "DHIM" Nom-Tom Progression: [Phrase A]: Ta - Nam - Thom - Ta | Ta - Nam - Thom - Ta | Dhim (Drone strike) S - R - G - M | R - G - M - P | S .P .S (Drone) [Phrase B]: Ta - Nam - Ta - Nam | No - Thom - Ta - Nam | Dhim (Drone strike) P - D - P - Ṡ | Ṡ - N - P - M | S .P .S (Drone) [Phrase C]: Ta - Na - No - Tom - Ta - Nam (Accelerando run down to Sa) Ṡ - N - P - M - R - G - M - R - S || 📜 4. BANDISH (KRITI) LYRICS [STHAYI / PALLAVI] Sanskrit: रामचन्द्र पाहि सततं मां राघव । [ANTARA / ANUPALLAVI] Sanskrit: सामगानलोल पावनशील सोमसुन्दरानन सुरपाल ॥ [CHARANAM] Sanskrit: पद्मनाभ प्रभो परमपुरुष सदा सर्वलोक संरक्षण चतुर । मानितगुणगण मारुतिविनुत दीनदयापर दिव्यचरितामृत ॥ 🎹 5. NOTATION: STHAYI (PALLAVI) Tala: Rupakam (6 Aksharas per cycle: 2 Dhrutam counts + 4 Laghu counts) Eduppu: Starts after a 2-count pause (Anagatam) or right on beat. Cycle 1: | , , P , | M , R G | M R S , || | - - rA -| ma - can -| dra pA - || Cycle 2: | S R G M | P D P Ṡ | Ṡ , , , || | hi - sa -| ta - tam -| mAM - - || Cycle 3: | Ṡ N P M | R G M R | S , , , || | rA - gha | va - - - | - - - - || 🎹 6. NOTATION: ANTARA (ANUPALLAVI) Cycle 1: | P , D P | Ṡ , Ṡ , | Ṡ , , , || | sA - ma -| gA - na -| lO - la - || Cycle 2: | Ṡ Ṙ Ġ Ṁ | Ġ Ṙ Ṡ N | P , , , || | pA - va -| na - shI -| la - - - || Cycle 3: | P D P Ṡ | Ṡ N P M | R G M P || | sO - ma | sun da -| rA - na - || Cycle 4: | Ṡ N P M | R G M R | S , , , || | su - ra -| pA - la -| - - - - || 🎯 7. TEHAI / TIHAI (MATHEMATICAL CADENTIAL NOTATION) A Tehai (Tihai / Mukthayippu) is a structured, rhythmic-melodic phrase played exactly 3 times without pause, landing mathematically on "Samam" (Count 1 of the new cycle). Tala Calculation in Rupakam (6 Aksharas per cycle): • Total Span: 2 Full Tala Cycles = 12 Aksharas (Counts) • Formula: (Phrase of 3 Aksharas × 3) + (Rest/Pause of 1 Akshara × 2) = 9 + 2 = 11 Aksharas • The 12th Akshara lands with a crash on the root tonic Sa (Samam)! Tehai Notation: [Part 1]: | Ṡ N P M R G | M R (3 counts) + , (1 count pause) [Part 2]: | Ṡ N P M R G | M R (3 counts) + , (1 count pause) [Part 3]: | Ṡ N P M R G | M R (3 counts) [Landing]: === LANDS DIRECTLY ON SAMAM: [ S , , , ] (Tonic Sa / "rAmacandra")! daspiyamusic/‪@siddhantnahar‬