A Melakarta is a complete seven-note parent scale: the same seven svara forms occur in order in both ascent and descent. The modern system arranges 72 scales into twelve chakras, with six scales in each chakra.
How the system works
Think of this as a generative map rather than a list to memorise. A few choices account for the 72 scales; the following key lets you move from a name to its number, then from that number to its notes.
Sa and Pa stay fixed. Choose one of two Madhyamas, one of six valid Rishabha–Gandhara pairs and one of six valid Dhaivata–Nishada pairs: 2 × 6 × 6 = 72.
- Melakartas 1–36 use M1, Shuddha Madhyama.
- Melakartas 37–72 use M2, Prati Madhyama.
- Positions 36 apart share every note except Madhyama.
Name to number — the katapayadi key
A melakarta's name encodes its number. The first counted consonant supplies the units digit and the second supplies the tens digit; reverse their written order to read the number. This is the old katapayadi rule, aṅkānāṃ vāmato gatiḥ — "the digits go from the right."
| Digit |
Consonants |
| 1 |
ka, ṭa, pa, ya |
| 2 |
kha, ṭha, pha, ra |
| 3 |
ga, ḍa, ba, la |
| 4 |
gha, ḍha, bha, va |
| 5 |
ṅa, ṇa, ma, śa |
| 6 |
ca, ta, ṣa |
| 7 |
cha, tha, sa |
| 8 |
ja, da, ha |
| 9 |
jha, dha |
| 0 |
ña, na |
In a joined consonant cluster, only the last consonant counts.
- Mayamalavagowla → ma (5), ya (1) → read right to left → 15.
- Kharaharapriya → kha (2), ra (2) → 22.
- Dhirasankarabharanam → dhi (9), ra (2) → 29.
- Mecakalyani (also written Mechakalyani) → ma (5), ca (6) → 65.
- Hanumatodi → ha (8), na (0) → 80 read right to left → 8. The prefix is added to plain Todi only to carry the number.
The consonants—not an approximate English spelling—carry the number. Keep the distinctions between ta and tha, and between ṭa and ṭha, when using the key. The formula applies to Melakarta names, not to every janya name.
Number to notes — reading a melakarta from its position
Once you have the number, the notes follow from the position. Sa and Pa are always fixed.
Madhyama. Numbers 1–36 use M1, Shuddha Madhyama; 37–72 use M2, Prati Madhyama.
Chakra fixes Rishabha and Gandhara. Each chakra is a block of six scales that share one Ri–Ga pair. The pattern repeats between the two halves, so chakra 1 and chakra 7 share a pair, and so on.
| Chakra (1–6, repeating for 7–12) |
Ri–Ga |
| 1 |
R1 G1 |
| 2 |
R1 G2 |
| 3 |
R1 G3 |
| 4 |
R2 G2 |
| 5 |
R2 G3 |
| 6 |
R3 G3 |
Position within the chakra fixes Dhaivata and Nishada.
| Position 1–6 |
Dha–Ni |
| 1 |
D1 N1 |
| 2 |
D1 N2 |
| 3 |
D1 N3 |
| 4 |
D2 N2 |
| 5 |
D2 N3 |
| 6 |
D3 N3 |
Worked example — number 22. Chakra = 22 ÷ 6 rounded up = 4, giving R2 G2. Position = 22 − 18 = 4, giving D2 N2. Since 22 is 36 or less, the Madhyama is M1. The scale is S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 Ṡ — Kharaharapriya. Its name also decodes to 22, so name, number and notes all agree.
Read the scale symbols
S R G M P D N stand for Shadja, Rishabha, Gandhara, Madhyama, Panchama, Dhaivata and Nishada. The numbers identify their variants; see the Svara key. Ṡ marks the upper tonic; S marks the middle tonic. Descent reverses the sequence.
Complete Melakarta chart
Chakra 1 — Indu
Chakra 2 — Netra
Chakra 3 — Agni
Chakra 4 — Veda
Chakra 5 — Bana
Chakra 6 — Ritu
Chakra 7 — Rishi
Chakra 8 — Vasu
Chakra 9 — Brahma
Chakra 10 — Disi
Chakra 11 — Rudra
Chakra 12 — Aditya
Parent scales and Janya ragas
A Janya raga may omit notes, use a non-straight sequence or have other characteristic features. Parent classification helps locate its pitch material; it does not replace the phrases and ornamentation that make the raga recognizable. Omitting notes or using a curved (vakra) line helps explain the relationship between many janyas and their parents. The relationship is a map, not a recipe: characteristic phrases and gamaka still give each raga its identity.