72 MELAKARTA SCHEME – CONTD

1.The rishabha, gandhara,dhaivatha and nishada have three varieties. The different combination of R
andG are totally 9 ie

R1G1, R1G2,R1G3, R2G1, R2G2, R2G3, R3G1,R3G2, and R3G3

Out of this 3 combinations are not possible ie

R2G1 – the notes belong to identical swarasthana

R3G1 -the note sudha gandhara is lower in pitch compared to shatsruti rishabha and results in
vakratva and not regular assent

R3G2 –the notes belong to identical swarasthana

So only six combinations are possible

Similarly for dhaivatha and nishada. The different combinations of D and N are totally 9 ie

D1N1, D1N2,D1N3, D2N1,D2N2,D2N3, D3N1,D3N2, and D3N3

Out of this 3 combinations are not possible ie

D2N1 – the notes belong to identical swarasthana

D3N1 –the note sudha nishada is lower in pitch compared to shatsrtuti dhaivatha and results in
vakratva and not regular assent.

D3N2 – the notes belong to identical swarasthana

With 6 combination of RG and 6 combinations of DN and2 varieties of M we have 6x6x2=72

2.Arrangment in Chakra –

The rishabha-gandhara varieties change from chakra to chakra. In one chakra the RG retain their
identical character in all the six mela ragas within the chakra the change occurs only inDN

Ie Ichakra – R1G1 – ra ga

IIchakra – R1G2- ra gi

III chakra –R1G3- ra gu

IV chakra – R2G2 – ri gi

V chakra –R2G3 – ri gu

VI chakra –R3G3 – ru gu

The dhaivatha – nishada varieties change only within the chakra ie in every chakra the

1st mela raga takes D1N1 –dha na

2nd mela raga takes D1N2 – dha ni

3rd mela raga takes D1N3 – dha nu

4th mela raga takes D2N2 – dhi ni

5th mela raga take D2N3 – dhi nu

6th mela raga takes D3N3 – dhu nu

This RG combination and DN combination is for 6x6=36 ragas with M1 combination ie sudha
madhyama and the same is identical for the next 36 ragas with prati madhyama ragas

KATAPAYADI SUTRA

This sutra tells us how to find the serial number of a melakarta. It is done by the application of the
formula

Kadinava – ka

Tadinava – ta

Padipancha – pa

Yadyashta –ya

The first two syllables of the name of the melakarta have been dexterously coined for the purpose of
this formula. It is based on the principal letters of the Sanskrit alphabets.

Eg Harikambhoji – Ha –ri -8-2 the result 82 is reversed 28

Namanarayani – na-ma 0-5 the result is 05 when reversed 50

Chakravaka – cha-ka 6-1 when reversed is 16

Divyamani – di-v -84 when reversed is48

Viswvambhari –vi s 45 when reversed – 54

Syamalangi –sya ma 55 when reversed 55

Simhendra madhyama –si –ma 75 when reversed 57

Chitrambari -66 when reversed -66

Jyotiswarupini – 86 when reversed 68.

This sutra is not applicable for janya ragas.