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Kambhoji or Kambodhi ^[1] is a popular Raga in Carnatic Music. It is classified as a derived raga from 28th Melakartha, Harikambhoji, and has existed since the 7th century.

Scale

The scale of Kambhoji is also said to have been derived from Cambodia.

Arohana: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S

Avarohana: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S (N3 P D2 S)

Usage of "n3" in phrase "npds" makes Kambhoji a bhashanga raga (a raga that includes notes other than what is in the parent raga).

It is a Shadava (6 notes in Arohana) Sampoorna (all 7 notes in Avarohana) raga.

Medieval era

There are numerous references to Raga or Ragini called Kambhoji in ancient Indian musical traditions. Narada's Sangita Makaranda (7th to 8th century AD) broadly classifies Ragas into eight subsets and includes three raginis in each subset. In this scheme of classification, Narada accepts raga Kambhoji as a mode of Shri raga, the first subset of his scheme of classification.^[2] Ramaditya, the author of Swara-Mela Kalanidhi (1550 AD) has accepted 20 melas and has accommodated 64 Jana-ragas among the melas. In this scheme of classification, the twentieth mela is Kambhoji under which come the Jana-ragas like Kambhoji.^[3] Ragamala of Pundrikavitthala classifies ragas into six divisions with each group having several raginis and ragas imagined to be their spouses and sons. Thus the ragini Kambhoji is assumed to be one among the several spouses of raga Nat-Narayana.^[4] Chatravarishach.chhat-Raga Nirupanam authored by Narada (1525-50 AD) lists ten main ragas and accepts the Kambhoji as the spouse of seventh raga called Raga Nata-Narayana.^[5] Chaturdandi Prakashika authored by Venkatamakhin (also known as Venkateshwara Dikshit, ~1660 AD) assumes 19 melas and lists the Kambhoji, Kedaragaula and Narayanagaula as the Janya ragas under mela Kambhoji.^[6] The Anupa-Sangit-Ratanakar by Sangit Acharya Bhava-Bhata lists 20 ragas as being fundamental ragas. The third raga of his scheme, called Kedar Raga, includes more than a dozen of raginis----the seventh being the well known Kambhoji.^[7] Raja Tulaji, the ruler of Tanjore (1763-87 AD) has written a well known book on musicology known as Sangit-Saramritoddhar. Raja Tulaji assumes 21 Janakmelas and includes Kambhoji and Yadukul-Kambhoji as the Jana ragas under the eighth Janaka-mela of his scheme of classification.^[8]

Matanga’s ancient reference to raga Kambhoji

Most of the references above are comparatively recent but this should not be taken to mean that raga Kambhoji is also of recent origin. Reference to this raga as Thakkesi is in the ancient Tamil epic Cilappatikaram which is referred by the Sanskrit name kamboji. Brihaddesi authored by Sangit Acharya Matanga Muni (500-700 AD) is the most important work between Natyashastra (2nd century BC) and Sangita Makarand (7th to 8th century AD).^[9] Sage Matanga probably hailed from south India. This Brihaddesi work is dated between 5th and 7th century AD but unfortunately it is incomplete. Portions of it appear to have lost down the road. Matanga's Brihaddeshi is the first major and available text to describe the Ragas as we understand them today. Sangit Acharya Matanga informs us that "a classical melody (Raga) can not be composed of four notes or less. But the melodies used by the tribes such as the Sabara, Pulinda, Kamboja, Vanga, Kirata, Vahlika, Andhra, Dravida and the Vanachra (forest dwelling) clans or tribes are an exception which contain four svaras or notes".^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]

Classification according to gender

Sangita Makaranda also classifies the ragas according to their gender i.e. Male Ragas, Female Ragas (i.e., Raginis) and Neuter Ragas. According to Narada, the Male Ragas depict emotions of Raudra (anger), Veera (heroic) and Bhayanaka (fearful); the Female Ragas represent sentiments of Shringara (romantic and erotic), Hasya (humorous) and Karuna (sorrow); while the Neuter Ragas represent emotions of Vibhatsa (disgustful), Adbhuta (amazement) and Shanta (peaceful).

Each raga is principally dominated by one of these nine rasas or sentiments, although the performer can also bring out other emotions in a less prominent way. The more closely the notes of a raga conform to the expression of one single idea or emotion, the more overwhelming the effect of the raga.

Since the Raga Kambhoji has been classified as Female Raga (i.e., Ragini), this Raga is particularly suitable in conveying the sentiments of Shringara (romantic and erotic), Hasya (humorous) and Karuna (pathos).

Popular compositions

There are many compositions set to Kambhoji rāgam, and it is one of the primary ragas in Carnatic music.

A few of these compositions are: (not an exhaustive list below)

Krishnamurthy kanna munde (8th Navaratna Malike), Kandu Kandu Nee Enna by Purandaradasa
Kailasavasa Gaurisha By Vijaya Dasa
Dasarendare Purandaradasarayya By Vyasatirtha
Emayya rama by Bhadrachala Ramadasu
Enna Vandaalum, Shivanai Ninaindu by Neelakanta Sivan
Govinda Ghataya, Vedadri Sikhara, Sripatimiha by Narayana Teertha
Lambodaram Avalambe, Mari mari vacchuna, Trivikramam Aham, Akhilanda Koti (Varnam) by Mysore Vasudevachar
Kuzhaloodhi manamellam, Mithiladhipa, Aakka poruttavarkku, Vāngum enakku, by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
Devi Ni Padasarasamule by Shyama Sastri
O Rangashayi, Maa Janaki, Elara Sri Krishna, Evari Mata, Mahita Pravrddha, Sri Raghuvara, Marimari Ninne, Margamu Telupave by Tyagaraja
Kamalambikayai (4th Avarana), Sri Subrahmanyaya Namaste, Marakatavallim, Kailsanathena, Gopala Krishnaaya, Sri Valmika Lingam, Kashi Vishveshvara, Samba Sadashivaaya by Muthuswami Dikshitar
Sarasijanabha (Varnam), Sarasa Mridupada (Varnam), Charupankaja, Inta Modiyaalara, Karanam Vina, Rasavilasa lolo, Namasudhamayi, Poorna Chandranana, Saradindu sama mukhanakum, Manasi Karuna, Padasanati Munijana, Panchabanan tannudaya (Padam), Innu Mama Bhagyataru (Padam, see Mohiniyattam) by Swathi Thirunal
Koniyadina Napai by Veena Kuppayyar
Ratna Kanchuka Dharini, Shivam Harim by Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar
Palinchu sarvani by @puliyur doraiswamy iyer
Adum Deivam, Anandame Paramanandame, Kaana kan kodi, Kadhirkama Kandan, Shikkal Meviya by Papanasam Sivan
Thiruvadi Sharanam by Gopalakrishna Bharati
En Kula Deivame by Ambujam Krishna
Vennai Unnum En by Periyasami Thooran
Ele Palimpa by M. Balamuralikrishna
Natamadi Tirinda by Papavinasha Mudaliyar
Ivan Yaaro Ariyen (Padam) by Kavi Kunjara Bharati
Padari Varugudhu (Padam) by Subbarama Iyer
Emi Mayamu (Javali) by Pattabhiramayya
Pankajakshi (Varnam) by Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer
Kamalakshi (Varnam) by Kunnakudi Krishnaiyer
Taruni Ninnu (Varnam) by Fiddle Ponnuswami

Tamil Film song "Aadiya Paadhangal Ambalathil" song from the movie Oorukku Uzhaippavan composed by M. S. Viswanathan is set in Kambhoji Ragam.

References

^ (Kannada: ಕಾಂಭೋಜಿ) The Raga is pronounced as Kambhoji as well as Kambhodi and also Kambhoji in south-western and southern India but as Kamboji in northern India where the term Kamboji carries a paisachi influence of the north-west frontiers.
^ Ragas and Raginis, Appendix 4, pp 179-80, O.P Ganguli
^ Appendix 17, pp 197-98, O.P Ganguli
^ Appendix 18, pp 199-200, O.P Ganguli
^ Appendix 19, pp 201-04, O.P Ganguli
^ Appendix 24, p 209, O. P. Ganguli.
^ Appendix 26, p 211, O. P. Ganguli
^ Appendix 26, p 213, O.P. Ganguli
^ pp 16-18, O. P. Ganguli
^ See also: Folk-lore, p 63.
^ Studies in Musicology, 1983, p 93, Ramanlal Chhotalal Mehta, Indian Musicological Society.
^ Also see: Indian Music, 1973, p 7, Bigamudre Chaitanya Deva.
^ Historical Development of Indian Music: A Critical Study, 1973, 136, Swāmī Prajñānānanda, Prajnanananda.
^ A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RAGA-RASA RELATIONSHIP, p 18, Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, online article - sanjannagar.org.