Begada
A phrase-led raga of the Shankarabharanam family whose curved motion and specially shaded Ma and Ni resist a scale-only description.
The sound
Begada is recognised less by a straight scale than by its curved movement and sustained, oscillated notes. Ma and Ni receive characteristic shades often called Begada madhyama and Begada nishada; they should not be reduced to extra keyboard notes.
Scale
One commonly taught outline is:
| Svara sequence | |
|---|---|
| Ascent — arohana | S G3 R2 G3 M1 P D2 P Ṡ |
| Descent — avarohana | Ṡ N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S |
Svara key: R2 chatusruti rishabha, G3 antara gandhara, M1 suddha madhyama, D2 chatusruti dhaivata, N3 kakali nishada. Parent: commonly placed under Melakarta 29, Shankarabharanam.
How to recognise Begada
- Expect vakra turns: Ga and Ri interlock in ascent, while Pa–Dha–Pa checks a plain climb.
- Ma, Dha and Ni are important colour-bearing notes, with kampita and gliding treatment central to the raga.
- A bare Shankarabharanam scale will not yield Begada; its identity lies in the turns and intonation.
Compositions to know
- Inta Chalamu — Veena Kuppayyar
- Nadopasana — Tyagaraja
- Tyagarajaya Namaste — Muttuswami Dikshitar
Related: Melakarta 29 · Svara key · Raga