SWARASTHANA & 72 MELAKARTA CHART

Carnatic Music Reference

Swarasthānas in Carnatic Music

The Melakarta System uses twelve distinct swarasthānas derived from the sixteen theoretical swarasthānas of Carnatic Music.

Symbol	Swarasthāna Name	Explanation
S	Shadjam	The fundamental tonic note. Its position never changes.
R₁	Shuddha Rishabham	The first variety of Ri. Soft and gentle.
R₂	Chatusruti Rishabham	The second variety of Ri. Bright and stable.
R₃	Shatsruti Rishabham	The highest Ri. Shares the same pitch as G₁.
G₁	Shuddha Gandharam	The first Ga. Equivalent in pitch to R₃.
G₂	Sadharana Gandharam	The second Ga. Rich and expressive.
G₃	Antara Gandharam	The third Ga. Bright and commonly used.
M₁	Shuddha Madhyamam	The first Ma. Used in Melakarta Ragas 1–36.
M₂	Prati Madhyamam	The second Ma. Used in Melakarta Ragas 37–72.
P	Panchamam	The fifth note. Like Sa, it never changes.
D₁	Shuddha Dhaivatam	The first Dha. Soft and calm.
D₂	Chatusruti Dhaivatam	The second Dha. Bright and resonant.
D₃	Shatsruti Dhaivatam	The highest Dha. Shares the same pitch as N₁.
N₁	Shuddha Nishadam	The first Ni. Equivalent in pitch to D₃.
N₂	Kaisiki Nishadam	The second Ni. Soft and devotional.
N₃	Kakali Nishadam	The highest Ni. Brightly leads to the upper Sa.

Fixed Swaras

Sa (Shadjam) — Always fixed.
Pa (Panchamam) — Always fixed.

Variable Swaras

Ri → R₁, R₂, R₃
Ga → G₁, G₂, G₃
Ma → M₁, M₂
Dha → D₁, D₂, D₃
Ni → N₁, N₂, N₃

Important Note

Carnatic Music theoretically has sixteen swarasthānas, but the Melakarta system uses twelve distinct pitch positions. This is because R₃ and G₁ share the same pitch, and D₃ and N₁ also share the same pitch.

Melakarta Raga Chart

Shuddha Madhyama (M1)			Prati Madhyama (M2)
1. Indu Chakra			7. Rishi Chakra
1	Kanakangi	R1 G1 D1 N1	37	Salagam	R1 G1 D1 N1
2	Ratnangi	R1 G1 D1 N2	38	Jalarnavam	R1 G1 D1 N2
3	Ganamurti	R1 G1 D1 N3	39	Jhalavarali	R1 G1 D1 N3
4	Vanaspati	R1 G1 D2 N2	40	Navaneetam	R1 G1 D2 N2
5	Manavati	R1 G1 D2 N3	41	Pavani	R1 G1 D2 N3
6	Tanarupi	R1 G1 D3 N3	42	Raghupriya	R1 G1 D3 N3
2. Netra Chakra			8. Vasu Chakra
7	Senavati	R1 G2 D1 N1	43	Gavambodhi	R1 G2 D1 N1
8	Hanumatodi	R1 G2 D1 N2	44	Bhavapriya	R1 G2 D1 N2
9	Dhenuka	R1 G2 D1 N3	45	Shubhapantuvarali	R1 G2 D1 N3
10	Natakapriya	R1 G2 D2 N2	46	Shadvidamargini	R1 G2 D2 N2
11	Kokilapriya	R1 G2 D2 N3	47	Suvarnangi	R1 G2 D2 N3
12	Rupavati	R1 G2 D3 N3	48	Divyamani	R1 G2 D3 N3
3. Agni Chakra			9. Brahma Chakra
13	Gayakapriya	R1 G3 D1 N1	49	Dhavalambari	R1 G3 D1 N1
14	Vakulabharanam	R1 G3 D1 N2	50	Namanarayani	R1 G3 D1 N2
15	Mayamalavagowla	R1 G3 D1 N3	51	Kamavardhini (Pantuvarali)	R1 G3 D1 N3
16	Chakravakam	R1 G3 D2 N2	52	Ramapriya	R1 G3 D2 N2
17	Suryakantam	R1 G3 D2 N3	53	Gamanashrama	R1 G3 D2 N3
18	Hatakambari	R1 G3 D3 N3	54	Vishwambhari	R1 G3 D3 N3
4. Veda Chakra			10. Disi Chakra
19	Jhankaradhwani	R2 G2 D1 N1	55	Shyamalangi	R2 G2 D1 N1
20	Natabhairavi	R2 G2 D1 N2	56	Shanmukhapriya	R2 G2 D1 N2
21	Keeravani	R2 G2 D1 N3	57	Simhendramadhyamam	R2 G2 D1 N3
22	Kharaharapriya	R2 G2 D2 N2	58	Hemavati	R2 G2 D2 N2
23	Gowrimanohari	R2 G2 D2 N3	59	Dharmavati	R2 G2 D2 N3
24	Varunapriya	R2 G2 D3 N3	60	Neetimati	R2 G2 D3 N3
5. Bana Chakra			11. Rudra Chakra
25	Mararanjani	R2 G3 D1 N1	61	Kantamani	R2 G3 D1 N1
26	Charukesi	R2 G3 D1 N2	62	Rishabhapriya	R2 G3 D1 N2
27	Sarasangi	R2 G3 D1 N3	63	Latangi	R2 G3 D1 N3
28	Harikambhoji	R2 G3 D2 N2	64	Vachaspati	R2 G3 D2 N2
29	Dheera Shankarabharanam	R2 G3 D2 N3	65	Mechakalyani	R2 G3 D2 N3
30	Naganandini	R2 G3 D3 N3	66	Chitrambari	R2 G3 D3 N3
6. Rutu Chakra			12. Aditya Chakra
31	Yagapriya	R3 G3 D1 N1	67	Sucharitra	R3 G3 D1 N1
32	Ragavardhini	R3 G3 D1 N2	68	Jyotiswarupini	R3 G3 D1 N2
33	Gangeyabhushani	R3 G3 D1 N3	69	Dhatuvardani	R3 G3 D1 N3
34	Vagadheeswari	R3 G3 D2 N2	70	Nasikabhushani	R3 G3 D2 N2
35	Shulini	R3 G3 D2 N3	71	Kosalam	R3 G3 D2 N3
36	Chalanattai	R3 G3 D3 N3	72	Rasikapriya	R3 G3 D3 N3

What is a Chakra?

Understanding the Chakra System in the 72 Melakarta Ragas

In the 72 Melakarta Raga System, a Chakra (Sanskrit: चक्र) means “Wheel” or “Group”. Each Chakra contains 6 Melakarta Ragas having the same combinations of Rishabham (Ri) and Gandharam (Ga). Only the Dhaivatam (Dha) and Nishadam (Ni) change within each Chakra.

The 12 Chakras

Chakra No.	Chakra Name	Meaning	Melakarta Numbers
1	Indu	Moon	1 – 6
2	Netra	Eye	7 – 12
3	Agni	Fire	13 – 18
4	Veda	Sacred Knowledge	19 – 24
5	Bana	Arrow	25 – 30
6	Rutu (Ṛtu)	Season	31 – 36
7	Rishi	Sage	37 – 42
8	Vasu	Divine Beings	43 – 48
9	Brahma	Creator	49 – 54
10	Disi	Direction	55 – 60
11	Rudra	Lord Shiva	61 – 66
12	Aditya	Sun	67 – 72

Example

Indu Chakra (1–6)

All six ragas have R₁ G₁ M₁.
Only Dha (D) and Ni (N) change.
This systematic arrangement helps classify all 72 Melakarta Ragas.

Summary

The 72 Melakarta Ragas are divided into 12 Chakras, each containing 6 Melakarta Ragas. This organization makes it easier to understand, classify, memorize, and study the complete Melakarta system in Carnatic Music.