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Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style tambura
Concepts
Śruti Svara Rāga Tāḷa Mēḷakarta Asaṃpūrṇa Mēḷakarta
Compositions
Gītaṃ Svarajati Varṇaṃ Kr̥ti Kīrtana Rāgaṃ Tānaṃ Pallavi Tillana
Instruments
Melody Sarasvati Vīṇā Veṇu Nādasvaraṃ Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā) Violin Percussion Mr̥daṅgaṃ Ghaṭaṃ Morsing Kanjira Thavil Drone Tambura Shruti box
Composers Glossary

Kamavardhani (pronounced kāmavardhini – కామవర్ధిని/ ಕಾಮವರ್ಧಿನಿ/ காமவர்தினி / कामवर्धिनि) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 51st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also referred by the name Pantuvarāḷi,^[1] although purists prefer to designate it as Kamavardhini. It literally means "that which increases desire".

This rāgam is very popular with musicians who typically sing it in the beginning of a concert. It is called Kāshirāmakriya in the Muthuswami Dikshitar school. The Hindustani music equivalent of Kamavardhini is the Poorvi thaat/Puriya Dhanashree.^[1][2]

It is the 3rd rāgam in the 9th chakra Brahma. The mnemonic name is Brahma-Go. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu mi pa dha nu.^[1] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

• ārohaṇa: S R₁ G₃ M₂ P D₁ N₃ Ṡ^[a]
• avarohaṇa: Ṡ N₃ D₁ P M₂ G₃ R₁ S^[b]

(the notes in this scale are shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, prathi madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham, kakali nishadham)

It is a sampoorna rāgam – a rāgam that has all seven swaras (notes). This rāgam differs from the 15th melakarta rāgam Mayamalavagowla, which is the rāgam taught to a beginner in Carnatic music, only by the madhyamam. Kamavardhani is the prati madhyamam equivalent of Mayamalavagowla.

It has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. See List of janya rāgams for full list of rāgams associated with it.

• Guruvina Gulaamanaaguva Tanaka (also sung in Salagabhairavi) – Purandaradasa
• Harinama Jihveyolirabeku By Vyasatirtha
• Vitalayya Vitalayya By Jagannatha Dasa
• Ramanujare Namo By Kanakadasa
• Raghuvara Nannu, Shambo Mahadeva, Saramegani, Aparama bhakthi, Shobhaane,Vadaera Daivamu, Sundara daradeham, Ninne Nera Nammi, and Shiva Shiva Shiva Enarada – Thyagaraja
• Ennaganu Rama Bhajana – Bhadrachala Ramadasu
• Ramanatham Bhajeham, Visalaksheem Visweseem, Senapathe Palayamam, Sri Sundararajam – Muthuswami Dikshitar,
• Ninnarul Iyambalagumo – Papanasam Sivan
• Sarasaksha Paripalaya Maamayi, Paripalaya Sarasiruha and Saroruhaasana (Navarathri sixth day krithi) – Swati Tirunal
• Magalahârathide Nēku, Mahitâtma Sevite – Kalyani Varadarajan
• Engum Nirainda Paramporule (varnam)- Madurai Sri N Krishnan^[3]
• Sharanam tava – Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna
• Shankari Ninne – Mysore Vasudevachar
• Kunjitha padhathai by Gopalakrishnabharathi
• Alli undidalaam vareer by Dandapani desikar

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Kamavardani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields Kanakangi (the 1st melakarta). Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. See further details and an illustration of Graha bhedam on Kanakangi.