Article 11928 of rec.music.indian.classical:
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From: mivenkat@mailbox.syr.edu (Meena I. Venkateswaran)
Newsgroups: rec.music.indian.classical
Subject: Re: Hamburger and Harikaambodi
Date: 27 Apr 1995 00:00:43 GMT
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Ganapathi S Subramania (peri@iastate.edu) wrote:

I might be able to shed some light on this matter.

Harikambodhi (also known as Harikamboji) is melakarta ragam, which means 
that it has the full 7 notes both in the ascending and descending scale.  
It follows the following scale:

SA RI (2) GA (2) MA (1) PA DHA(2) NI(1) SA

As I am not used to the formal notation used to describe swarams on this 
listserve, just to clarify, the

RI, GA, MA are  like Shankarabharanam
DHA, NI are like Kharaharapriya

The focus of pa-dha-ni-sa or dha-ni-sa-ni-dha-pa is key to this ragam.  
This is evident in many of the compositions, such as Enthara nithana, 
Ramanannubrovara, Sanithodi etc. (you will notice in these kritis that 
the above two phrases are quite common throughout the song, especially 
in the ascending part of the anupallavi).

The reason I state the above prayogams is because that is the main 
feature differing Harikambodhi from Kambodhi.  Kambodhi follows

SA RI (2) GA (2) MA (1) PA DHA(2)  SA
SA NI (1) DHA (2) MA (1) GA (2) RI(2) SA, sa ni(2) pa dha (2) sa

The tail part of kambodhi allows for the higher "ni" to be included.  
Therefore, the "surefire" way of knowing one ragam from the other, is in 
the presentation of the ragam between pa and sa.  The artist, if they are 
doing a good job, should clearly identify which of the two is being sung 
in the first sangati itself.  This is clear in songs such as Majanaki, 
Kanakankoti, ElaraShri Krishna....

Also, the descent of this ragam normally accentuates the ni(1).  The 
descent in Harikambodhi usually is a quick sa-ni-da-pa.

Kambodhi (ga-ma-ga-ri-sa, dha-sa-ri-ga-ri-sa...) identifies this ragam 
because of the pa-dha-sa....

Harikambodhi (ga-ga-ma-ga-ri-sa-sa, ni-da-ni-sa-ri-ga-ma-ga....)

I hope this explanation makes some sense. I do hope I have not confused 
the issue!

Meena


: Can some net-expert elucidate the finer differences between Harikambodhi and
: Kambodhi ? Though in most situations I can distinguish quite well between these
: two ragas sometimes I have a tough time when artists dwell on prayogams that  I
: think are particular one of the two. What's is a sure fire way of making this
: distinction? Also what are the key prayagoms of each of these ragas and prayagoms
: that are better avoided to maintain the distinction ? Thanks in Advance

: Ganapathi Subramania
: -- 
: Ganapathi S Subramania
: peri@iastate.edu