Gaula (raga)
Janya raga of Carnatic music
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Gaula or Gowla (pronounced gauḷa) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale) from the 15th melakarta scale Mayamalavagowla. It is a janya scale, as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes) in the ascending and descending scale.
| Arohanam | S R₁ M₁ P N₃ Ṡ |
|---|---|
| Avarohanam | Ṡ N₃ P M₁ R₁ G₃ M₁ R₁ S |
Gaula is an ancient rāgam mentioned in Sangita Ratnakara, Sangita Makarandha and Sangita samayasara.[1][2] It is an auspicious rāgam, which is mostly sung in the early part of the concert.[1] It is a popular rāgam and also a ghana rāgam.[2]
Structure and Lakshana
Gaula is an asymmetric rāgam that does not contain dhaivatam in the scale and does not contain gandharam in the ascending scale. It is an audava-vakra-shadava rāgam (or owdava, meaning pentatonic ascending scale).[1][2] Vakra-shadava means that the descending scale has 6 notes with inclusion of zig-zag movements (vakra). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows:
The notes used in this scale are shadjam, ekasruti rishabham (also known as Gaula rishabham[1]), shuddha madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishadham in ascending scale, with antara gandharam included in descending scale. For the details of the notations and terms, see swaras in Carnatic music.
