Nadakalyani is a rāgam created by Mahesh Mahadev in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 65th melakarta scale Mechakalyani. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending scale. Mahesh has named the equivalent of Nadakalyani in Hindustani music as Nad Kalyan. Nad Kalyan belongs to the Kalyan thaat of Hindustani music. The first composition in this raga is an ancient Sanskrit shloka Achyutam Keshavam written by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankara which is composed by Mahesh Mahadev and sung by Priyadarshini.
Structure and Lakshana
Nadakalyani is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatham in the ascending scale. It is an audava-sampurna rāgam (or owdava rāgam, meaning pentatonic ascending scale). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:
ārohaṇa : S R₂ G₃ P N₃ Ṡ
avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₃ D₂ P M₂ G₃ R₂ S
The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chathusruthi rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam and kakali nishadham in ascending scale, with prati madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham included in its descending scale.
Nadakalyani is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain madhyam or dhaivath in the ascending scale. It is an audav-sampurn rāg (or owdav rāg, meaning pentatonic ascending scale). Its āroh-avaroh structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:
āroh : Sa Re Ga Pa Ni Sa
avaroh : Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa
The notes used in this scale are Shadj, Shuddh Rishabh, Shuddh gandhar, pancham and Shuddh nishadh in ascending scale, with Shuddh Rishabh, Teevra Madhyam, Shuddh dhaivath included in descending scale.
Original Compositions
Achyutam Keshavam sung by Priyadarshini
Kaathyayani Varasuthane
Mangala Gowri Parvathi