Cakravākam
चक्रवाकम्
Cakravākam keeps the śuddha rishabha of the previous mela but raises dhaivata and lowers niṣāda, and that single pair of changes turns austerity into tenderness. It is the direct Carnatic counterpart of Āhīr Bhairav.
Melakartā number
16
Chakra
Agni · 4th of chakra
Type
Sampūrṇa · Melakartā
Swarasthāna
S R1 G3 M1 P D2 N2
Also known as
Toyavēgavāhini
Hindustani counterpart
Āhīr Bhairav
Janya rāgas
| Rāga | Note |
|---|---|
| Vēgavāhini | |
| Bindumālini | |
| Malayamārutam | |
| Vasantabhairavi |
Points of practice
Lean on D2–N2
The upper tetrachord is the rāga's voice; the lower half is Māyāmāḷavagauḷa's.
Keep R1 low
Any drift upward in rishabha turns the colour toward Harikāmbhoji.
Sing it lyrically
Cakravākam rewards a singing line over rapid brigas.