Janya raga · parent: 22. Kharaharapriya

Madhyamavathi

Also written or called: Madhyamavati

● Confidence: high Last verified: 12 Oct 2026

Scale

Derived from the printed scale: audava in both ascent and descent (5 notes up, 5 down); G and D are omitted (varjya) in both directions; upanga (only notes of its parent).

Beginner's explanation

Madhyamavathi is a janya raga : it is derived from the melakarta Kharaharapriya (number 22), which means it takes its notes from that parent's scale. It uses only notes of its parent, so it is an Upanga raga.

Going up, its notes are S R2 M1 P N2 S'; coming down, S' N2 P M1 R2 S. Its ascent and descent each use 5 different notes (Audava ). Notes of the parent that it leaves out are Varjya : G and D in both directions.

If Sa is C on a keyboard, the notes it uses fall on C, D, F, G, B♭. This only shows where the notes sit: a raga is more than its notes, and its ornaments and phrases are not shown here.

A bit deeper

Its parent. Madhyamavathi is placed under Kharaharapriya (melakarta 22) by karnatik.com, the source for this page's parent. Of the parent's seven notes it does not use G2 and D2.

Other possible parents. Because Madhyamavathi leaves out some notes, 4 melakartas contain every one of its notes (Natabhairavi, Kharaharapriya, Charukesi and Harikambhoji). Books usually pick one by convention, and different books can pick differently.

Why start here? How likely you are to meet it

●○○ (rating 1 of 3: 1 = met very often)

Rating 1 of 3 (editorial, a rough guide to how often you are likely to meet this raga): karnatik.com's tally of compositions per raga (based on a list of 38,000 songs) gives it 623, one of the most-composed ragas. A 1 means met very often and 3 means met rarely. It says nothing about how hard the raga is to sing, which depends on its ornaments and is not rated here. The tally counts songs by raga name and dates from 2011.

Characteristic features

Key notes, characteristic phrases and ornaments are not recorded here yet: they could not be confirmed from two sources, and this site leaves them out rather than guess.

Where the notes sit

Related ragas

• 22. Kharaharapriya

Compare with another raga

Notable compositions (titles only)

Songs listed for this raga on karnatik.com by composers covered on this site. Lists are community-compiled, so a missing song does not mean it does not exist. Talas are as the source names them; no lyrics are reproduced.

Annamacharya

• Adivo Alladivo Adi·Telugu

Muthuswami Dikshitar

• Dharmasamvarddhani Danuja Rupaka·Sanskrit
• Maha Tripurasundari Rupaka·Sanskrit
• Pannaga Shayama Adi·Sanskrit
• Shri Rajarajeshvarim Rupaka·Sanskrit

Papanasam Sivan

• Adbhuta Lilaigalai Tamil
• Anudinamunai Tamil
• Kanna Kattarul Tamil
• Samaja Vara Gamana Saketavasa Adi·Sanskrit
• Samajavara Tamil
• Sharavana Bhava Guhane Adi·Tamil
• Vighna Vinayaka Tamil

Purandara Dasa

• Acyutananta Govinda Hari Ata·Kannada
• Ara Haraisidarenuntu Adi·Kannada
• Aru Bararu Ata·Kannada
• Badava Ninagobbara Ata·Kannada
• Bandu Nindiha Ata·Kannada
• Baride Duruviriyekamma Ata·Kannada
• Baro Brahmadi Ata·Kannada
• Bhagyada Laksmi Adi·Kannada
• Bharatishane Enna Triputa·Kannada
• Dasu Barisutide Adi·Kannada
• Durita Gajake Ata·Kannada
• Ellanu Ballenembuviralla Adi·Kannada
• Entahudo Ninna Triputa·Kannada
• Govinda Ninnananda Adi·Kannada
• Indu Nanenu Eka·Kannada
• Maddu Madalariye Triputa·Kannada
• Manave Cancalamatiya Adi·Kannada
• Marulu Madi Raga Adi·Kannada
• Nambadiru I Kannada
• Narayana Te Adi·Kannada
• Nene Beku Adi·Kannada
• Nine Acyuta Adi·Kannada
• Nodirai Kalpa Ata·Kannada
• Rajabhogakintadhika Ata·Kannada
• Rama Deva Adi·Kannada
• Rama Mantrava Version Adi·Kannada
• Rama Ramenniro Ata·Kannada
• Sadhu Sajjana Adi·Kannada
• Sharanu Ninage Ata·Kannada
• Tala Beku Ata·Kannada
• Tanuva Nirolagittu Ata·Kannada
• Vrndavana Devi Adi·Kannada

Swati Tirunal

• Bhavaye Padmanabham Adi
• Devakisuta Pahimam Adi
• Dhyayami Shri Raghuramam Khanda Chapu
• Kosalendra Mamava Adi
• Sadaramiha Bhaje Adi
• Sarasa Mukha
• Shri Padmanabha Chapu
• Smarati Nu Mam
• Vanajaksam Adi

Syama Sastri

• Brhannayaki Nannu Matya
• Kamaksi Lokasaksini Gitam Triputa
• Palincu Kamakshi Adi

Tyagaraja

• Adigi Sukhamu Rupaka·Telugu
• Alakalalla Rupaka·Telugu
• Deva Shri Tapastirthapura Triputa·Telugu
• Evariccirira Adi·Telugu
• Muccata Brahmadulaku Adi·Telugu
• Nagumomu Galavani Adi·Telugu
• Nalina Locana Telugu
• Rama Katha Telugu
• Rama Namam Adi·Telugu
• Rama Samayamu Adi·Telugu
• Sharanu Sharanu Adi·Telugu
• Shri Rama Jayarama Shrngara Adi·Telugu
• Venkatesha Ninu Adi·Telugu
• Vinayakuni Valenu Adi·Telugu

How this was checked

• Sources agree: Scale of Madhyamavathi: ascent S R2 M1 P N2 S'; descent S' N2 P M1 R2 S. Sources: Royal Carpet: Carnatic Ragas; List of Janya ragas. The ascent and descent printed by karnatik.com match the scale in Wikipedia's table.
• Sources agree: Madhyamavathi is a janya of melakarta number 22, Kharaharapriya. Sources: Royal Carpet: Carnatic Ragas; Royal Carpet: Introduction to Carnatic Raga (the melakarta ragas). Parent per karnatik.com. Consistency check: every note of the raga is in the parent's scale (the parent's own scale is confirmed in two sources).