Etymology of raga names

RR · 11th March 2005, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by viggop

Do all raga names starting with "Hamsa" have any connection with Swan bird? Why was it named like that?

I guess there should be some other meaning for 'Hamsa'..

I checked up on 'kedar', it means 'mountain lord'.. This may be an inspiration. Incidentally, 'kedar' in Hindustani is a totally different raga - a hamir kalyani variant.
Similarly 'todi' is also different raga in Hindustani, but 'gandharam' is same as in Carnatic todi.. So there may be some truth to the meaning I mentioned in a previous post.

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**viggop** · 11th March 2005, 12:42 PM

RR
What is the meaning of "Dhwani"? Does it mean music in Sanskrit?

**viggop** · 11th March 2005, 12:43 PM

HamsaDvani is supposed to be the best raga to start a concert.

HamsaDvani--- SwanSong?

RR · 11th March 2005, 01:05 PM

dhwani is sound.. I used to think 'Hamsadhwani' is 'amsamaana sound'

. Actually if you play the hamsadhwani notes on the keyboard, you can see that all the notes sound nicely harmonic. In a similar sense, I feel that 'hamsanaadham' notes also sound 'good'.. Could just be my perception.

RR · 12th March 2005, 12:37 PM

I guess origin of 'Chakravagam' is well-known.

**viggop** · 12th March 2005, 04:29 PM

RR,
I do not know Chakravakam origin. Please write about it.I am only a newbie

RR · 13th March 2005, 10:53 AM

In the Chakravaga bird family, the male & female apparently live separated at night (due to Rama's curse). The chakravagam raga is supposed to reflect the plight of these birds.

Ilayaraja has tuned a nice song in this raga in the film 'Keladi Kanmani'. The song 'nee paathi naan paathi kanne' is almost like the two birds singing and longing for each other!

RR · 16th March 2005, 08:04 AM

malayamArutham - malai + mArutham. mArutham is breeze, so it means breeze from the mountains. This is supposed to have healing powers, so is singing in this raga.

My source for these explanations (or theories) is a tamil book I happened to read couple of years back. I can't recollect the title or author, at present.

**viggop** · 16th March 2005, 11:03 AM

Tansen is supposed to have created a "deepa" raga which bring fire?

RR · 16th March 2005, 08:09 PM

yes, it's the Deepak raga.

Malhar is supposed to bring rains. Mal - bad things. Har - clear. Meaning to bring wealth thru rain.

Malahari - basically the same meaning, but not in the sense of rain.