"Ranjayathi manamseethi raga", Raga is what cheers mind. According to Sangeetha-Ratnakara of Sharngadeva (13th century), Raga is "A combination of tones which, with beautiful illuminating graces, inclination, declination and pleases the people in general".
Same is the case with this raga, Kamas(kamasu). It is said that if you repeat the word 'kamasu' it will end up as 'sukama'(pleasure). So true it is!
Kamas is a janya raga of 28th Melakartha raga- Harikambhoji. Kamas is considered as a sarvakalika raga(all-time). This raga conveys "shringara" rasa very well. Almost all great composers have used this raga in their krithis.
ArOhaNam: S M1 G3 M1 N2 D2 N2 P D2 N2 S
avarOhaNam: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Kamas raga has become my favourite right after i heard a beautiful daru varnam, "Mathey Malayadwaja..", praising Madurai Meenakshy Devi. Let me share some information which i compiled about this soulful composition by Harikeshanellur Muthayya Bagawathar.
Daru varnam is a form of varnam where mukthayi swaras will be followed by Jathis and finally Sahitya. Perhaps the use of Mukthayi swaras would be the most catchy thing that i felt in this varnam. I'm including that Daru varnam here
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pallavi
mAthE malayadvaja pANDya samjAtE mAtanga vadana guha
(mAthE)
anupallavi
shAtOdhari shankari chAmuNDEshvari candrakalAdhari tAyE gaurI
(mAthE)
Swara: DaDa NDDN DDND DNPM’ | DaDa NRSN SDNS DPMM ||
DaDa NGRN RSND PNDM | DaDa MGMP MPDD NNDM ||
DaD RSNDN DaD MDNMN | DaD SSPDN DaD MGRSN ||
DaDP DaDN DaDS DaRD | MGR SNDa NSNN DDPM ||
Following the swaras, Jathis and sahitya will be sung.
Jathi: thAmthAm thakajoNu dadanida dimithaka | dAdA kukuthari thajaNutha dapamama ||
dAdA nigarini risadhimi tharikita | jamjam thakitatha kukuthari Namthari ||
dAthathin ginathari jEkumada nithaka | Namthasa sathimitha thomthadi mithakita ||
dAdapa dAdatha rEkusa dArijam |.magari sanidA nisanini dadapama ||
SAhityA: dAtA sakala kalA nipuNa chatura dAtA sulabha hrdaya madhura vacana
dAtA sarasa ruciratara svara laya gIta sukhada nija bhAva rasika vara dAtA mahishUra nAda nAlvaTi shrI
krSNa rAjEndrara tAyE sadA pore mahite harikEsha manOharE sadayE
charaNam:
shyAmE sakala bhuvana sArvabhaumE shashi maNDala madyagE
(mAtE)
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The most beautiful rendering of this daru varnam i have heard is of M.S.Subbalakshmi amma's. What a divine voice! She will just create that tranquil mood from nowhere. I also love Sudha Raghunathan's version from the film 'Morning Raga' which is a bit fusion kind.
Many famous composers have used 'kamas' in their krithis. Swathi Thirunals varnam "sa vama rusha", Chinnikrishnadasar's swarajathi "Saambashivayaneva", Tyagarajas "Sujanajeevana", Dikshither's "Saarasadalanayana", Mysore Vasudevacharya's "Brochevaravarua", Pattanam Subramanya Iyyer's javali "Apudumanasu' etc are some gems set to this beautiful raga.
Kamas has been used in film songs too. Ilayaraja-KJ Yesudas teams famous song "Pazhamuthir cholai" , Devarajan master-ONV kurup teams "maayanadana viharini" etc are some very famous film songs based on 'kamas' raga.
Mathe Malayadwaja samjathey(not commercial version) by MS Subbalakshmi
Sudha Raghunathan's version from Film 'Morning Raga'
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