Two different ragas share the name Begada.
This page is the one born of Dheera Sankarabharanam (Mela 29). The other has the same name but a different parent and a different scale, so they do not sound alike: Begada · born of Dheera Sankarabharanam .
The Core Architecture of Begada
Think a swara in the arohanam or avarohanam is wrong? Send us the correction — we review every suggestion, and accepted fixes are credited to you as a contributor.
Begada is a Janya Raga derived from Dheera Sankarabharanam (Melakarta 29) in Carnatic music. Its swaras are drawn from the parent scale Dheera Sankarabharanam, and the way it selects, omits or bends those swaras is what gives it a character of its own. Use the arohanam and avarohanam above as your starting point: play the scale slowly on the harmonium, hold each swara until the pitch settles, and only then sing it back.
Musical Mood and Character
Rasa: veera — dignified strength. Begada is a janya of Shankarabharanam with a vakra arohanam and both nishadams. Its phrases are broad and its gamakas measured, giving it a stately gait that resists being hurried.
It is a substantial concert raga associated with ceremony and formal occasion. Its courage is composed rather than fiery.
Essential Phrases for Practice
Start with the plain arohanam and avarohanam in slow speed, holding each swara until it is steady. Once the scale is secure, practise it against a shruti drone and only then move to gamaka-laden phrases. Whenever a phrase feels uncertain, go back to the scale and check yourself swara by swara before building speed.
Signature Swarams
Recognise Begada by Ear
Signature phrases
Swaras it dwells on
Ga · Ma · Dha
What makes it unique
A zigzag ascent (S G R G M P D P S), with distinctive shaking gamakas on Ga, Ma and Dha. Kaisiki nishadam enters as an anya swara.
Ragas it can be confused with
- Dheera Sankarabharanam — Its parent; straight scale.
- Sahana — Also zigzag, with different turns (R G M P M D N S).
Famous compositions
- Vallabha Nayakasya — Muthuswami Dikshitar
- Nadopasana — Tyagaraja
- Abhimanamennedu — Tyagaraja
- Lokavana Chatura — Tyagaraja
- Shankari Neeve — Subbaraya Sastri
Hum a raga — Ilakku Music will name it
Similar Ragas
Ragas that share the scale of Begada or differ from it by one or two swaras. Tap Compare to see and hear them side by side.
Essential Compositions to Listen & Learn
Be the first to contribute
No compositions in Begada have been added yet. Know a kriti, a film song or a varnam in this raga? Add it and it becomes part of the Ilakku Music library.
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