Revati
A five-note raga using Shuddha Ri and Kaisiki Ni, without Ga or Dha.
Revati has five notes: Sa, Ri, Ma, Pa and Ni. Ga and Dha are absent, leaving an open melodic outline with Shuddha Rishabha close to Sa.
Scale
Arohana: S R1 M1 P N2 Ṡ
Avarohana: Ṡ N2 P M1 R1 S
The usual parent classification is Ratnangi, Melakarta 2. R1 is Shuddha Rishabha, M1 Shuddha Madhyama and N2 Kaisiki Nishada.
Recognising the movement
Follow the return through M1 R1 S. Compare Madhyamavati, which uses R2 in the same five-note arrangement. Revati’s lower Ri is a small written difference with a clear melodic consequence. This comparison describes the note frameworks; the phrasing of each raga still needs to be heard in music.
Compositions
Bho Shambho by Swami Dayananda Saraswati is a familiar Revati composition. Annamacharya’s Nanati Batuku is also sung in a Revati setting.
Use these pieces to hear how a limited note collection supports different lengths of phrase, pauses and returns to Sa.