Hanumatodi

Hanumatodi, more popularly known as Todi, (sanskrit , tamil ஹனுமத்தோடி) is a rāgam (musical scale), in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is the 8^th Melakarta rāgam (parent rāgam) in the 72 melakarta rāgam system.

This is sung very often in concerts. It is known to be a difficult raga to perform in owing to its complexity in prayoga (notes phrases and intonation).

Todi in Carnatic music, is different from the rāgam "Todi (thaat)" of Hindustani music (North Indian classical music). The equivalent of the Hindustani raga "Todi" in Carnatic music is "Subhapanthuvarali" (which is the 45^th melakartha) "Ragas in Carnatic music" by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] "Raganidhi" by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras] .

tructure and Lakshana

It is the 2^nd melakarta in the 2^nd chakra "Netra". The mnemonic name is "Netra-Sri". The mnemonic phrase is "sa ra gi ma pa dha ni" .

Its IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see "swaras in Carnatic music" page for details on below notation and terms):
*IAST|ārohaṇa : S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N2 S
*IAST|avarohaṇa : S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S(Suddha Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam, Suddha Dhaivatham, Kaisiki Nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam - rāgam having all 7 swarams.

Janya rāgams

"Hanumatodi" has a quite a few "janya" rāgams (derived rāgams) associated with it, of which "Asaveri", "Bhoopalam", "Dhanyasi", "Punnagavarali" and "Suddha Seemandhini" are popular.

See "List of Janya Ragas" for a full list of Todi's janyas.

Popular Compositions

Most composers have composed songs in "Todi" .

"Taye Yashoda" by the great composer Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi is a very well known composition, in the Tamil language. This popular kriti is sung frequently in various concerts. A popular "varnam" in the Todi raga is "Era Napai" by Patnam Subramania Iyer, one of the most important composers in the Indian musical tradition.

Other popular compositions are:

"Kadhanu vaariki", "Dasu kovalena" and "Gati Neevani" by Thyagaraja
"Karthikeya Gangeya" and "Thamatham aen swami" by Papanasam Sivan

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Todi's notes when shifted using Graha bedham, yields 5 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, "Kalyani", "Sankarabharanam", "Natabhairavi", "Kharaharapriya" and "Harikambhoji". For further details and an illustration of Graha bedham of this rāgam refer Related rāgams section in Sankarabharanam page.

References