Question
Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?
A
Nat Bhairavi
B
Kamavardhini
C
Hanumatodi
D
Dheera Shankarabharanam
Correct Answer: (D) Dheera Shankarabharanam
29th Melakarta · All Shuddha (natural) notes · Same structure as Bilawal
Why is Dheera Shankarabharanam the answer?
Scale Comparison — All Three Are Identical
The secret is the NOTES. Raga Bilawal in Hindustani uses all
Shuddha (natural / pure) notes — no flat or sharp notes at all.
Think of it like pressing only the white keys on a piano.
Dheera Shankarabharanam in Carnatic music ALSO uses only natural notes
— the exact same set. This makes both ragas sound identical in scale structure,
even though they come from different traditions.
In Western music this same scale is called the C Major scale.
So: Dheera Shankarabharanam = Bilawal = C Major. Three names, one scale.
The other three options — Nat Bhairavi, Kamavardhini, Hanumatodi — all use
flat or sharp notes, making them completely different in structure
from Bilawal.
Hindustani
Raga Bilawal
S R G m P D N
All Shuddha = Bilawal Thaat
All Shuddha = Bilawal Thaat
Carnatic ✓
Dheera Shankarabharanam
S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₃
All Shuddha = 29th Melakarta
All Shuddha = 29th Melakarta
Western
C Major Scale
C D E F G A B
All Natural = White keys only
All Natural = White keys only
| Melakarta Number | 29th Melakarta Raga |
| Type | Sampurna — all 7 notes used in ascent and descent |
| Aroha (Ascending) | S R₂ G₃ M₁ P D₂ N₃ S |
| Avaroha (Descending) | S N₃ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S |
| Hindustani Equivalent | Raga Bilawal |
| Western Equivalent | C Major Scale |
| Famous Composition | Tyagaraja’s “Endaro Mahanubhavulu” — one of the 5 Pancharatna Kritis |
| Mood (Rasa) | Shantha (peace) · Karuna (compassion) |
| Best Time to Sing | Morning |
| Chakra | Naya Chakra (5th Chakra in Melakarta system) |
Option A
Nat Bhairavi
Uses flat (Komal) Ga, Dha and Ni notes.
These flattened notes make it sound very different from Bilawal’s pure scale.
≈ Bhairavi in Hindustani
Option B
Kamavardhini
Uses a sharp (Prati) Madhyama and flat Ri, Ga.
Very complex scale — nothing like the natural Bilawal.
≈ Poorvi in Hindustani
Option C
Hanumatodi
Uses four flat notes — Komal Ri, Ga, Dha and Ni.
Almost opposite to Bilawal which uses zero flat notes.
≈ Bhairavi / Todi in Hindustani
🧠 Remember It This Way
Exact Source References
SHANKARA = PURE — Lord Shiva is associated with purity.
Shankarabharanam uses all pure (Shuddha) notes — just like Bilawal.
Three names → One Scale:
Dheera Shankarabharanam (Carnatic) =
Bilawal (Hindustani) =
C Major (Western)
Famous song anchor: Tyagaraja’s
“Endaro Mahanubhavulu” is in Shankarabharanam.
If you know that song, you know this raga.
Piano trick: Play only the white keys → that is Shankarabharanam = Bilawal = C Major.
No black keys = no flat or sharp notes.
UPSC Prep Book
Nitin Singhania — Indian Art & Culture
Chapter 10–11 · Carnatic vs Hindustani raga equivalents table · Most recommended source for UPSC
Primary Academic
P. Sambamoorthy
Dictionary of South Indian Music and Musicians · Entry: Dheera Shankarabharanam → Bilawal equivalent
Classical Text
Sangita Ratnakara (13th Century)
Sarngadeva’s treatise · Foundational classification of Indian classical raga theory
Research Reference
S. Ramanathan
Music in Cilappatikaram · Melakarta system cross-references with Hindustani equivalents
