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The Melakarta system’s hierarchical architecture organizes its 72 parent ragas into 12 chakras (groups), each containing six ragas distinguished by specific swara (note) permutations. This framework ensures systematic classification while preserving melodic diversity. Below is the complete hierarchical structure, detailing each chakra’s symbolic significance, swara rules, and constituent ragas.

Structural Overview

The 72 ragas are divided into two halves based on the Madhyama (Ma) variant:

  1. First 36 Ragas: Use Shuddha Madhyama (M1).
  2. Second 36 Ragas: Use Prati Madhyama (M2).

Each half comprises six chakras, named to reflect their ordinal position through Vedic symbolism. Within each chakra, ragas share fixed Rishabha (Ri) and Gandhara (Ga) but vary in Dhaivata (Dha) and Nishada (Ni).

Chakras with Shuddha Madhyama (M1)

1. Indu Chakra (1st Chakra: Symbolizes "One Moon")

  • Swara Rules: R1 (Shuddha Ri), G1 (Shuddha Ga), M1
  • Ragas:
    1. Kanakangi (1): S R₁ G₁ M₁ P D₁ N₁
    2. Ratnangi (2): S R₁ G₁ M₁ P D₁ N₂
    3. Ganamurti (3): S R₁ G₁ M₁ P D₁ N₃
    4. Vanaspati (4): S R₁ G₁ M₁ P D₂ N₂
    5. Manavati (5): S R₁ G₁ M₁ P D₂ N₃
    6. Tanarupi (6): S R₁ G₁ M₁ P D₃ N₃

2. Netra Chakra (2nd Chakra: Symbolizes "Two Eyes")

  • Swara Rules: R1, G2 (Sadharana Ga), M1
  • Ragas:
    1. Senavati (7): S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₁
    2. Hanumatodi (8): S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂
    3. Dhenuka (9): S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₃
    4. Natakapriya (10): S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₂ N₂
    5. Kokilapriya (11): S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₂ N₃
    6. Rupavati (12): S R₁ G₂ M₁ P D₃ N₃

3. Agni Chakra (3rd Chakra: Symbolizes "Three Sacred Fires")

  • Swara Rules: R1, G3 (Antara Ga), M1
  • Ragas:
    1. Gayakapriya (13): S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₁
    2. Vakulabharanam (14): S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₂
    3. Mayamalavagowla (15): S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₃
    4. Chakravakam (16): S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂
    5. Suryakantam (17): S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₃
    6. Hatakambari (18): S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₃ N₃

4. Veda Chakra (4th Chakra: Symbolizes "Four Vedas")

  • Swara Rules: R2 (Chatusruti Ri), G2, M1
  • Ragas:
    1. Jhankaradhwani (19): S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₁
    2. Natabhairavi (20): S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₂
    3. Keeravani (21): S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₁ N₃
    4. Kharaharapriya (22): S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₂ N₂
    5. Gaurimanohari (23): S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₂ N₃
    6. Varunapriya (24): S R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₃ N₃

5. Bana Chakra (5th Chakra: Symbolizes "Five Arrows of Manmatha")

  • Swara Rules: R2, G3, M1
  • Ragas:
    1. Mararanjani (25): S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₁
    2. Charukesi (26): S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₂
    3. Sarasangi (27): S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₃
    4. Harikambhoji (28): S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂
    5. Dheerasankarabharanam (29): S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₃
    6. Naganandini (30): S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₃ N₃

6. Rutu Chakra (6th Chakra: Symbolizes "Six Seasons")

  • Swara Rules: R3 (Shatsruti Ri), G3, M1
  • Ragas:
    1. Yagapriya (31): S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₁
    2. Ragavardhini (32): S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₂
    3. Gangeyabhushani (33): S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₃
    4. Vagadheeshwari (34): S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₂
    5. Shulini (35): S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₃
    6. Chalanata (36): S R₃ G₃ M₁ P D₃ N₃

Chakras with Prati Madhyama (M2)

7. Rishi Chakra (7th Chakra: Symbolizes "Seven Sages")

  • Swara Rules: R1, G1, M2
  • Ragas:
    1. Salagam (37): S R₁ G₁ M₂ P D₁ N₁
    2. Jalarnavam (38): S R₁ G₁ M₂ P D₁ N₂
    3. Jhalavarali (39): S R₁ G₁ M₂ P D₁ N₃
    4. Navaneetam (40): S R₁ G₁ M₂ P D₂ N₂
    5. Pavani (41): S R₁ G₁ M₂ P D₂ N₃
    6. Raghupriya (42): S R₁ G₁ M₂ P D₃ N₃

8. Vasu Chakra (8th Chakra: Symbolizes "Eight Deities")

  • Swara Rules: R1, G2, M2
  • Ragas:
    1. Gavambhodi (43): S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₁ N₁
    2. Bhavapriya (44): S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₁ N₂
    3. Shubhapantuvarali (45): S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₁ N₃
    4. Shadvidamargini (46): S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₂ N₂
    5. Suvarnangi (47): S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₂ N₃
    6. Divyamani (48): S R₁ G₂ M₂ P D₃ N₃

9. Brahma Chakra (9th Chakra: Symbolizes "Nine Cosmic Forms")

  • Swara Rules: R1, G3, M2
  • Ragas:
    1. Dhavalambari (49): S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₁
    2. Namanarayani (50): S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₂
    3. Kamavardhini (51): S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₃
    4. Ramapriya (52): S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₂
    5. Gamanashrama (53): S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₃
    6. Vishwambari (54): S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₃ N₃

10. Disi Chakra (10th Chakra: Symbolizes "Ten Directions")

  • Swara Rules: R2, G2, M2
  • Ragas:
    1. Syamalangi (55): S R₂ G₂ M₂ P D₁ N₁
    2. Shanmukhapriya (56): S R₂ G₂ M₂ P D₁ N₂
    3. Simhendramadhyamam (57): S R₂ G₂ M₂ P D₁ N₃
    4. Hemavati (58): S R₂ G₂ M₂ P D₂ N₂
    5. Dharmavati (59): S R₂ G₂ M₂ P D₂ N₃
    6. Nitimati (60): S R₂ G₂ M₂ P D₃ N₃

11. Rudra Chakra (11th Chakra: Symbolizes "Eleven Rudras")

  • Swara Rules: R2, G3, M2
  • Ragas:
    1. Kantamani (61): S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₁
    2. Rishabhapriya (62): S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₂
    3. Latangi (63): S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₃
    4. Vachaspati (64): S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₂
    5. Mechakalyani (65): S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₃
    6. Chitrambari (66): S R₂ G₃ M₂ P D₃ N₃

12. Aditya Chakra (12th Chakra: Symbolizes "Twelve Sun Gods")

  • Swara Rules: R3, G3, M2
  • Ragas:
    1. Sucharitra (67): S R₃ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₁
    2. Jyoti Swarupini (68): S R₃ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₂
    3. Dhatuvardhini (69): S R₃ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₃
    4. Nasikabhushani (70): S R₃ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₂
    5. Kosalam (71): S R₃ G₃ M₂ P D₂ N₃
    6. Rasikapriya (72): S R₃ G₃ M₂ P D₃ N₃

Functional Analysis of the Hierarchy

Structural Patterns

  1. Swara Permutations: Each chakra incrementally modifies Ri and Ga, while Dha and Ni cycle through three variants (D1/D2/D3 and N1/N2/N3)[1][2].
  2. Katapayadi Encoding: Raga numbers (1–72) align with their names via the Katapayadi sankhya system. For example, Harikambhoji (28) derives from Ha (8) + Ri (2) reversed[1][5].

Pedagogical Significance

  • Foundational Training: Raga Mayamalavagowla (15) is often the first taught due to its symmetrical swara structure[1][3].
  • Compositional Basis: Composers like Tyagaraja derived janya ragas (e.g., Mohanam from Harikambhoji) by omitting swaras[6].

Conclusion

The Melakarta hierarchy exemplifies Carnatic music’s fusion of mathematical precision and artistic expression. By structuring ragas into 12 chakras with fixed swara rules, it provides a systematic foundation for pedagogy, composition, and improvisation. Future studies could explore computational models of this system or comparative analyses with Hindustani thaats.

Citations: [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melakarta [2] https://sites.google.com/site/kalpsangeethasabha/ragas/72-melakarta-ragas [3] https://www.spardhaschoolofmusic.com/blog/72-melakarta-ragas-and-its-structure [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asampurna_Melakarta [5] https://morseatuml.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/VK/index/homepage/pdpfiles/Melakartha%20Ragaas%20in%20Carnatic%20Music.pdf [6] https://www.ipassio.com/blog/list-of-ragas-in-carnatic-music [7] https://www.hitxp.com/keyboard-music-notes/music-articles/carnatic-melakartha-raga-list/ [8] http://music-raagaa.blogspot.com/p/72-melakartha-raagas_17.html [9] https://sites.google.com/site/kalpsangeethasabha/ragas/72-melakarta-ragas [10] https://sanskritdocuments.org/english/carnatic.pdf

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