CHAPTER IV

MURCHANAKĀRAKA MĒLAS

Mēlas which can produce by the process of Grahabhēda or Modal shift of Tonic are
called Murchanakāraka mēlas. Keeping any Svara other than the Ādhāra Shadja of a mēla as
tonic mote and singing the same mēla, we can hear a new mēla. For example let us take up
Rishabha of Sankarābharana rāga as the Shadja.

Sankarābharanam - S R1 R2 G1 G2 M1 M2 P D1 D2 N1 N2 S R1 R2

New Mēla S 0 R2 G1 0 M1 0 P 0 D1 N1 0 S

The new mēla has Shadja, Chatusruti Rishabha, Sadhārana Gāndhara, Suddha
Madhyama, Panchama, Chatusruti Dhaivata and Kaisaki Nishāda. With the aid of the
Purvanga Svaras and Uttāranga Svaras, we can find out the serial numbers of the mēlakarta,
i.e. Chatusruti Rishabha (ri-gi). Belonging to the fourth chakra and Chatusruti Dhaivata and
Kaisaki Nishāda belong to the fourth rāga. Suddha Madhyama belongs to the Purvanga
mēlakarta. The Arohana got is S R2 G1 M1 P D2 N1 S. The fourth chakra is Vēda and the
fourth rāga is Bhu (Vēda- Bhu) i.e. 22nd mēlakarta rāga which is Kharaharapriya.

By experiment, it has been found that out of the recognized seventy two mēlas, 56
mēlas are able to generate new scales by the Grahabhēda. These 56 may be styled as
Murchanakāraka mēlas. In the case of the remaining 16, it will be found that whichever note
is taken as the tonic note, no satisfactory mēla results. Such scales are characterized by
unmusical intervals or four successive semitones; or one of the Sapta Svaras going
unrepresented. Thesāe mēlas may be styled as Amurchanakāraka mēlas or sterile mēlas.

Amurchanakāraka mēlas are Tānarupi (06), Rupavati (12), Yāgapriya (31), Sālagam
(37), Jalārnavam (38), Jhālavarāli (39), Navanitam (40), Pāvani (41), Raghupriya (42),
Suvarnāngi (47), Divyamani (48), Dhavalāmbari (49), Nāmanārāyani (50), Rāmapriya (52) and
Sucharitra (67)

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 MĒLAS AND THEIR MURCHANAS

1. KANAKĀNGI (1)
RGXXMXPDNXXSR
SRXXGXMPDXXNS R – Kāmavardhani (51)
2. RATNĀNGI (2)
RGXXMXPDXNXSR
SRXXGXMPXDXNS R- Gamanasrama (53)
MXPDXNXSRGXXM
SXRGXMXPDNXXS M – Jhankāradwani (19)
3. GĀNAMURTI (3)
RGXXMXPDXXNSR
SRXXGXMPXXDNS R- Viswambhari (54)
MXPDXXNSRGXXM
SXRGXXMPDNXXS M – Syāmalāngi(55)
4. VANASPATI (4)
MXPXDNXSRGXXM
SXRXGMXPDNXXS M – Māraranjani(25)
5. MĀNAVATI (5)
MXPXDXNSRGXXM
SXRXGXMPDNXXS M- Kantāmani (61)
6. SĒNĀVATI (7)
RXGXMXPDNXXSR
SXRXGXMPDXXNS R – Latāngi (63)
DNXXSRXGXMXPD
SRXXGMXPXDXNS D – Suryakāntam (17)
7. HANUMATHODI (8)
R X G XM X P D X N X S R
SXRXGXMPXDXNS R- Mēchakalyāni (65)

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 G XM X P D X N X S R X G
SXRXGMXPXDNXS G - Harikāmboji (28)
MXPDXNXSRXGXM
SXRGXMXPDXNXS M – Nathabhairavi (20)
DXNXSRXGXMXPD
SXRXGMXPXDXNS D – Sankarābharanam (29)
NXSRXGXMXPDXN
SXRGXMXPXDNXS N – Kharaharapriya (22)
8. DHĒNUKA (9)
RXGXMXPDXXNSR
SXRXGXMPXXDNS R – Chitrāmbari (66)
MXPDXXNSRXGXM
SXRGXXMPDXNXS M – Shanmukhapriya (56)
DXXNSRXGXMXPD
SXXRGMXPXDXNS D – Sulini (35)
9. NĀTAKAPRIYA (10)
GXMXPXDNXSRXG
SXRXGXMPXDNXS G – Vāchaspati (64)
MXPXDNXSRXGXM
SXRXGMXPDXNXS M – Chārukēsi (26)
NXSRXGXMXPXDN
SXRGXMXPXDXNS N – Gaurīmanohari (23)
10. KOKILAPRIYA (11)
MXPXDXXNSRXGXM
SXRXGXXMPDXNXS M – Rishabhapriya (62)
11. GĀYAKAPRIYA (13)
RXXGMXPDNXXSR
SXXRGXMPDXXNS R – Dhātuvardhani (69)
12. VAKULĀBHARANAM (14)
RXXGMXPDXNXSR
SXXRGXMPXDXNS R – Kosalam (71)
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 MXPDXNXSRXXGM
SXRGXMXPDXXNS M – Keeravāni (21)
NXSRXXGMXPDXN
SXRGXXMPXDNXS N – Hēmavati (58)
13. MĀYĀMĀLAVAGAULA (15)
RXXGMXPDXXNSR
SXXRGXMPXXDNS R- Rasikapriya (72)
MXPDXXNSRXXGM
SXRGXXMPDXXNS M–Simhēndramadhyamam(57)
14. CHAKRAVĀKAM (16)
MXPXDNXSRXXGM
SXRXGMXPDXXNS M – Sarasāngi (27)
NXSRXXGMXPXDN
SXRGXXMPXDXNS N – Dharmavati (59)
15. SURYAKĀNTAM (17)
GMXPXDXNSRXXG
SRXGXMXPDNXXS G – Sēnāvati (7)
MXPXDXNSRXXGM
SXRXGXMPDXXNS M- Latāngi (63)
16. HĀTAKAMBARI (18)
GMXPXXDNSRXXG
SRXGXXMPDNXXS G – Gavāmbodhi (43)
17. JHANKĀRADWANI (19)
PDNXXSXRGXMXP
SRGXXMXPDXNXS P – Ratnāngi (2)
DNXXSXRGXMXPD
SRXXGXMPXDXNS D- Gamanasrama (53)
18. NATHA BHAIRAVI (20)
GXMXPDXNXSXRG
SXRXGMXPXDXNS G- Sankarābharanam (29)

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 MXPDXNXSXRGXM
SXRGXMXPXDNXS M – Kharaharapriya (22)
PDXNXSXRGXMXP
SRXGXMXPDXNXS P – Hanumathodi (8)
DXNXSXRGXMXPD
SXRXGXMPXDXNS D - Mēchakalyāni (65)
NXSXRGXMXPDXN
SXRXGMXPXDNXS N – Harikāmboji (28)
19. KEERAVĀNI (21)
MXPDXXNSXRGXM
SXRGXXMPXDNXS M – Hēmavati (58)
PDXXNSXRGXMXP
SRXXGMXPDXNXS P – Vakulābharanam (14)
DXXNSXRGXMXPD
SXXRGXMPXDXNS D – Kosalam (71)
20. KHARAHARAPRIYA (22)
RGXMXPXDNXSXR
SRXGXMXPDXNXS R – Hanumathodi (8)
GXMXPXDNXSXRG
SXRXGXMPXDXNS G – Mēchakalyāni (65)
MXPXDNXSXRGXM
SXRXGMXPXDNXS M – Harikāmboji(28)
P X D N X S X R G X MX P
SXRGXMXPDXNXS P – Nathabhairavi (20)
N X S X R G X MX P X D N
SXRXGMXPXDXNS N - Sankarābharanam (29)

21. GAURĪMANOHARI (23)

RGXMXPXDXNSXR

SRXGXMXPXDNXS R – Nātakapriya (10)

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 MXPXDXNSXRGXM

SXRXGXMPXDNXS M- Vāchaspatii (64)

PXDXNSXRGXMXP

SXRXGMXPDXNXS P – Chārukēsi (26)

22. VARUNAPRIYA (24)

P X X D N S X R G X M XP

S X XR G M X P D X N X S P – Rāgavardhani (32)

23. MĀRARANJINI (25)

PDNXXSXRXGMXP

SRGXXMXPXDNXS P – Vanaspati (4)

24. CHĀRUKĒSI (26)

MXPDXNXSXRXGM
S X R G X M X P XD X N S M – Gaurīmanohari (23)
PDXNXSXRXGMXP
SRXGXMXPXDNXS P- Nātakapriya (10)
NXSXRXGMXPDXN
SXRXGXMPXDNXS N – Vāchaspatii (64)
25. SARASĀNGI (27)
MXPDXXNSXRXGM
SXRGXXMPXDXNS M – Dharmavati (59)
PDXXNSXRXGMXP
SRXXGMXPXDNXS P – Chakravākam (16)
26. HARIKĀMBOJI (28)
RXGMXPXDNXSXR
SX RGXMXPDXNXS R- Nathabhairavi (20)

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 MXPXDNXSXRXGM
SXRXGMXPXDXNS M - Sankarābharanam (29)
PXDNXSXRXGMXP
SXRGXMXPXDNXS P - Kharaharapriya (22)
DNXSXRXGMXPXD
SRXGXMXPDXN XS D - Hanumathodi (8)
NXSXRXGMXPXDN
SXRXGXMPXDXNS N- Mēchakalyāni (65)
27. SANKARĀBHARANAM (29)
RXGMXPXDXNSXR
SXRGXMXPXDNXS R –- Kharaharapriya (22)
GMXPXDXNSXRXG
SRXGXMXPDXNXS G – Hanumathodi (8)
MXPXDXNSXRXGM
SXRXGXMPXDXNS M – Mēchakalyāni (65)
PXDXNSXRXGMXP
SXRXGMXPXDNXS P – Harikāmboji(28)
DXNSXRXGMXPXD
SXRGXMXPDXNXS D - Nathabhairavi (20
28. NĀGĀNANDINI (30)
GMXPXXDNSXRXG
SRXGXXMPDXNXS G – Bhavapriya (44)
PXXDNSXRXGMXP
SXXRGMXPXDNXS P - Vāgadhīsvari (34)
29. RĀGAVARDHANI (32)
MXPDXNXSXXRGM
SXRGXMXPXXDNS M – Varunapriya (24)
30. GANGĒYABHUSHANI (33)
MXPDXXNSXXRGM
SXRGXXMPXXDNS M – Neetimati (60)

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31. VĀGADHĪSVARI (34)
MXPXDNXSXXRGM
SXRXGMXPXXDNS M – Nāgānandini (30)
DNXSXXRGMXPXD
SRXGXXMPDXNXS D – Bhavapriya (44)
32. SULINI (35)
GMXPXDXNSXXRG
SRXGXMXPDXXNS G – Dhēnuka (9)
MXPXDXNSXXRGM
SXRXGXMPXXDNS M – Chitrāmbhari (66)
DXNSXXRGMXPXD
SXRGXXMPDXNXS D – Shanmukhapriya (56)
33. CHALANĀTTA (36)
GMXPXXDNSXXRG
SRXGXXMPDXXNS G – Subhapantuvarāli (45)
34. GAVĀMBODHI (43)
DNXXSRXGXXMPD
SRXXGMXPXXDNS D – Hātakambari (18)
35. BHVAPRIYA (44)
GXXMPDXNXSRXG
SXXRGMXPXDNXS G – Vāgadīsvari (34)
DXNXSRXGXXMPD
SXRXGMXPXXDNS D – Nāgānandini (30)
36. SUBHAPANTUVARĀLI (45)
DXXNSRXGXXMPD
SXXRGMXPXXDNS D – Chalanāta (36)
37. SHADVIDHAMĀRGINI (46)
GXXMPXDNXSRXG
SXXRGXMPXDNXS G – Nāsikabhushani (70)

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38. KĀMAVARDHINI (51)
NSRXXGXMPDXXN
SRGXXMXPDNXXS N – Kanakāngi (1)
39. GAMANASRAMA (53)
GXMPXDXNSRXXG
SXRGXMXPDNXXS G- Jhankāradhvani (19)
NSRXXGXMPXDXN
SRGXXMXPDXNXS N – Ratnāngi (2)
40. VISWAMBHARI (54)
GXMPXXDNSRXXG
SXRGXXMPDNXXS G – Syāmalāngi (55)
NSRXXGXMPXXDN
SRGXXMXPDXXNS N – Gānamurti (3)
41. SYĀMALĀNGI (55)
PDNXXSXRGXXMP
SRGXXMXPDXXNS P – Gānamurti (3)
DNXXSXRGXXMPD
SRXXGXMPXXDNS D – Viswambhari (54)
42. SHANMUKHAPRIYA (56)
GXXMPDXNXSXRG
SXXRGMXPXDXNS G – Sulini (35)
PDXNXSXRGXXMP
SRXGXMXPDXXNS P – Dhēnuka (9)
DXNXSXRGXXMPD
SXRXGXMPXXDNS D – Chitrāmbari (66)
43. SIMHĒNDRAMADHYAMAM (57)
PDXXNSXRGXXMP
SRXXGMXPDXXNS P – Māyāmālavagaula (15)
DXXNSXRGXXMPD
SXXRGXMPXXDNS D – Rasikapriya (72)

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44. HĒMAVATI (58)
RGXXMPXDNXSXR
SRXXGMXPDXNXS R – Vakulābharanam (14)
GXXMPXDNXSXRG
SXXRGXMPXDXNS G – Kosalam (71)
PXDNXSXRGXXMP
SXRGXMXPDXXNS P – Keeravāni (21)
45. DHARMAVATI (59)
RGXXMPXDXNSXR
SRXXGMXPXDNXS R – Chakravākam (16)
PXDXNSXRGXXMP
SXRXGMXPDXXNS P – Sarasāngi (27)
46. NEETIMATI (60)
PXXDNSXRGXXMP
SXXRGMXPDXXNS P – Gangēyabhushani (33)
47. KANTĀMANI (61)
PDNXXSXRXGXMP
SRGXXMXPXDXNS P – Mānavati (5)
48. RISHABHAPRIYA (62)
P D X N X S XR X G X M P
SRXGXMXPXDXNS P – Kokilapriya (11)
49. LATĀNGI (63)
PDXXNSXRXGXMP
SRXXGMXPXDXNS P – Suryakāntam (17)
NSXRXGXMPDXXN
SRXGXMXPDNXXS N – Sēnāvati (7)
50. VĀCHASPATII (64)
RXGXMPXDNXSXR
SXRXGMXPDXNXS R – Chārukēsi (26)
PXDNXSXRXGXMP
SXRGXMXPXDXNS P – Gaurīmanohari (23)
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 DNXSXRXGXMPXD
SRXGXMXPXDNXS D- Nātakapriya (10)
51. MĒCHAKALYĀNI (65)
RXGXMPXDXNSXR
S XRXGMXPXDNXS R –– Harikāmboji (28)
GXMPXDXNSXRXG
SXRGXMXPDXNXS G – Nathabhairavi (20
PXDXNSXRXGXMP
SXRX GMXPXDXNS P – Sankarābharanam (29)
DXNSXRXGXMPXD
SXRGXMXPXDNXS D – Kharaharapriya (22)
NSXRXGXMPXDXN
SRXGXMXPDXNXS N - Hanumathodi (8)
52. CHITRĀMBARI (66)
GXMPXXDNSXRXG
SXRGXXMPDXNXS G – Shanmukhapriya (56)
PXXDNSXRXGXMP
SXXRGMXPXDXNS P – Sulini (35)
NSXRXGXMPXXDN
SRXGXMXPDXXNS N – Dhēnuka (9)
53. DHĀTU VARDHANI (69)
NSXXRGXMPDXXN
SRXXGMXPDNXXS N- Gāyakapriya (13)
54. NĀSIKABHUSHANI (70)
DNXSXXRGXMPXD
SRXGXXMPXDNXS D – Shadvidhamārgini (46)
55. KOSALAM (71)
GXMPXDXNSXXRG
SXRGXMXPDXXNS G – Keeravāni m(21)
DXNSXXRGXMPXD
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 SXRGXXMPXDNXS D – Hēmavati (58)
N S X X R G X M P X D XN
SRXXGMXPDXNXS N –Vakulābharanam (14)
56. RASIKAPRIYA (72)
GXMPXXDNSXXRG
SXRGXXMPDXXNS G–Simhēndramadhyamam (57)
N S X X R G X M P X XD N
SRXXGMXPDXXNS N – Māyāmālavagaula (15)

Of the 56 Murchanakāraka mēlas there are 20 which are capable of yielding one
scale each by the process of Modal Shift of Tonic.

18 mēlas: yielding 2 scales each

12 mēlas: yielding 3 scales each

6mēlas: yielding 5 scales each

Thus of the 56,

Ēkasvara murchana mēlas number : 20

Dvisvara murchana mēlas number : 18

Trisvara murchana mēlas number : 12

Panchasvara murchana mēlas number : 6

Total : 122

The 56 mēlas that admit Grahabhēda fall in 20 ‘groups’, (where each member in a
group can be obtained from another member of the same group by Grahabhēda). These 20
groups (arranged in brackets) are:

(1,51). (2,19,53), (3, 54, 55), (4,25), (5,61), (7,17,63), (8,20,22,28,29,65), (9,35,56,66),
(10,23,26,64), (11,62), (13,69), (14,21,58,71), (15,57,72), (16,27,59), (18,43), (24,32), (30,
34,44), (33,60), (36,45) and (46,70).

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 The above list accounts for 56 mēlas. The remaining 16 mēlas do not admit any
Grahabhēda. They are 6, 12,31,37,38,39,40,41,42,47,48,49,50,52,67 and 68.

There are 10 mēla pair in Grahabhēda. (1,51), (4,25), (5,61), (11,62), (13,69), (18,43),
(24,32), (33,60), (36,45) and (46,70).

There are 6 mēla triples in Grahabhēda. (2,19,53), (3, 54, 55), (7,17,63), (15,57,72),
(16,27,59), (30, 34,44).

There are 3 mēla quadruples in Grahabhēda. (9,35,56,66), (10,23,26,64) and

(14,21,58,71).

There is just one mēla sextuple in Grahabhēda. (8, 20, 22, 28, 29, 65).

An intensive study of Grahabhēda applied to Mēla rāgas leads to interesting

generalizations. Important they are given below.

1. The number of possible Panchama murchanas is 24 and this is equal to the number
of possible Madhyama murchanas.
2. The number of possible Gāndhara murchanas is 20 and this is equal to the number
of possible Dhaivata murchanas.
3. If Simhēndramadhyamam and Māyāmālavagaula are two scales A and B, B is the
Panchama murchana of A (Simhēndramadhyamam); and B’s (Māyāmālavagaula)
Madhyama murchana is the scale of A (Simhēndramadhyamam). Heptatonic scales
bearing this relationship may be styled Samvādi Mēlas.
4. The number of possible Rishabha murchanas is 20 and this is equal to the number of
possible Nishāda murchanas.
5. Panchama murchanas are possible only in mēlas taking the chatusruti Rishabha and
not in mēlas taking the Suddha Rishabha or Shadsruti Rishabha.
6. Madhyama murchanas of Prati Madhyama mēlas will not result in correct scales.
7. Gāndhara murchana of Suddha Gāndhara mēlas are not a possibility.
8. The seventh chakra, Rishi is the only chakra in which no mēla is capable of
producing resultant scale by the process of Modal shift of Tonic.

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9. Sankarābharanam is the only mēla, whose Madhyama murchana give rise to its
corresponding Prati Madhyama mēla.
10. Mēchakalyāni is the only mēla whose Panchama murchana give rise to its
corresponding Suddha Madhyama mēla
11. If a Panchama murchana of a Suddha Madhyama mēla is X, the corresponding prati
Madhyama mēla ’s Panchama murchana will be = X+1
For instance, Panchama murchana of Sankarābharanam is = 28

Sankarābharanam’s Prati Madhyama mēla, Mēchakalyāni’s panchama murchana will

be 28+1 = 29

Harikāmboji’s Panchama murchana = 22

Harikāmboji’s Prati Madhyama mēla, Vāchaspatii’s Panchama murchana 22+1 = 23

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