Mohanam - Alaapana

Nanu palimpa

The raga I have chosen this month is Mohanam. The word Mohanam means bewitching. After hearing the raga one gets the feeling that it is aptly named.

A janya of the 28th Melakarta Haikambhoji, it is an audava audava raga.

The aarohana is S R2 G3 P D2 S
The avarohanam is S D2 P G3 R2 S

The swaras used are Chatusruti R, Antara G, Chatusruti D. Antara Gandhara is the Jeeva swara of the raga.

Hindustani ragas Bhoop and Deshkar resemble this raga closely.

The notes R, G, D can be oscillated. Gamaka or oscillation make these notes beautiful, and prayogas in the raga aalapana containing these notes with gamaka are really bewitching…

The note G when used with gamaka sound rG, rG, rG.

Care must be taken while using gamaka with notes G and D, as an over-emphasized gamaka could touch on M and N, which are not in the aarohana and avarohana of this raga and do not belong to this raga.

Nowadays a tendency is there to bring in the note N in the avarohana prayoga S D, which is not acceptable.

The Jantai prayogas using notes in pairs like SS, RR, GG, PP and dattu prayogas (alternate notes) like SG, RP, GD, PS sound very attractive and melodious in raga aalapana and swara singing. An elongated D in swara group G, P DAA brings out the shades of Mohanam very well.

This raga suits Veera rasa very well. Heavy classical compositions as well as light ones sound beautiful in this raga.

This raga was known as Mullai Pann in ancient times.

It is said that the raga was known as Raygupti before it was christened Mohanam.There are many great and well-known compositions in this raga.

The Thyagaraja kriti 'Nanuu palimpa' is a very popular kriti in this raga in Aadi talam.

An interesting anecdote is attached to this composition. It is said that when Saint Thyagaraja's daughter was getting married, Thyagaraja was anxiously awaiting the return of his prime and favorite disciple, Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagawathar who had gone to his native village. As the auspicious time was approaching and there was no sign of Venktaramana, Thyagaraja became very agitated and restless. Suddenly his eyes spotted Venkataramana approaching, carrying a heavy portrait of Sri Rama tied to his back as his gift for the bride. Thyagaraja was so happy to see his disciple arriving, and the life-like portrait of Sri Rama, he ecstatically burst forth with the composition Nanu palimpa nadachi vacchitivo, meaning 'You walked all the way to save me.'

It is a tradition nowadays to play his song on the Nadswaram on the occasion of weddings.

Mohanam has the ability to lift up a sagging concert.

There are many compositions in this raga. I am mentioning a few only.

Thyagaraja in Telugu

1. Nannu Palimpa-Adi
2. Bhavanuta-Adi
3. Evarura-Misra Chapu
4. Mohana Rama-Adi

Dikshitar-Sanskrit:

Kadambari Priyayai

Arunachala Kavi-Tamil-Rama Nataka kritis

1. Ramanai kannara-Adi
2. En Palli kondeirayaa

Papanasam Sivan – Tamil

Kapali-Adi

GNB-Sanskrit

Sada palaya-Adi

Audio files:

The first audio file is an aalapana of the raga in the traditional style. The second audio file is a rendering of Nanu palimpa.