Atana or AThana (अठाण / अठाणा) is a raga (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is a Janya raga (derived scale), whose Melakarta raga (parent, also known as janaka) is Sankarabharanam, 29th raga, commonly known as Shankarabharanam in the Melakarta system. Sometimes pronounced aDaaNaa (अडाणा). There is a Hindusthani raaga named अडाणा, which is totally different.
Atana is very common in drama music. The note structures include, "Sadja, Chatusruti Rishabha, Suddha Madhyama, Pancama, Chatusruti Dhaivata, Kaisiki Nishada and as a rare feature, Kakali Nishada in descent."[1]
It is considered to be a very catchy raga that gives a stage flavor for a musician when everything is going dull in a concert. It stimulates the audience by its qualities of Veeram (courage).[2]
Structure and Lakshana
Parent scale Shankarabharanam with Shadjam at C
Atana is one of those rare organically developed Raga where it doesn't adhere to strict ascending and descending order but has phrases which are used in interwoven patterns in its improvization. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
The swaras used are chatushruti rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chatushruti daivatam and kakali nishadam. Atana is a bhashanga raga (kind of raga where the arohana and avarohana are not strictly followed). That is, it has two anyaswaras (alien notes; foreign swaras).[2] They are sadharana gandharam (G2) and kaishiki nishadham (N2).[2]
