About 600 years ago, Vijayanagar empire was the abode of learning. History of Sri Vyasarajaru(Guru of Sri Purandara) says, Sri Vyasarajaru managed about 10,000 teaching staff and also housed many knowledge seekers from Indian universities like Nalanda and foreigners too.
Those were the times when oral methods of learning was in vogue. Vedas, Upanishads and many treatises were taught orally and students were expected to memorize. This was an era when many musical treatises had also shown their presence.
Ramamatya was King Ramaraaya's minister. His treatise "Swara Mela KalaNidhi" dates back to the year 1550AD, when Sri Purandara was about 65 years of age. One evidence that documents the name of the raga " Malavagowla" is in this treatise.
Some evidences say that Sri Purandara sang ragas like Naata, Ahiri,Gurjari,Paani,Kedaragowla,Sowrashtra,Yadukula Kambhoji and many more.He sang them on the streets and at the doorsteps of the common man,which inturn made these ragas more familiar. Through his extempore on the Saahitya(lyrics) he could make many social reforms too. He was probably the 1st composer who took music for Societal Reformation.
Sri Krishnadevaraya , being a famous ruler of Vijayanagar empire, is believed to have invited court musicians from the length and breadth of the country. Owing to the exposure to different folkforms , Sri Purandara chose the swaras of the folkform of "Malava" region in today's Madhya Pradesh, merged it with the notes of Gowla raga and formulated a new raga "MalavaGowla". Now, that the raga was ready, Sri Purandara's intention was to streamline learning of music through this raga. ! This was indeed a path-breaking step in the field of Classical music.
What might have instigated the need for a new raga, when there was no dearth for raagas during the 15th century?
The swaras of Malavagowla are (S ,R1) (G3 M1) (P D1) (N3 S). As indicated, frequency difference of each pair of swaras is minimal.This is the MOST important aspects of this raaga. The difference of frequency between 2 pairs is significant. Eg. S to R1 shift is small, R1 to G3 shift is significant.
Following are the graphical comparison recorded at the physics laboratory of National College, Jayanagar, Bengaluru .
This shows the frequencies of 2 raagas: Kharaharapriya and Mayamalavagowla. Kharaharapriya ,being an old raaga demands more concentration and energy on part of singer than Mayamalavagowla. The definitive frequency limits of Kharaharapriya is 800 Hz more than Mayamalagowla, which clearly indicates that Kharaharapriya demands more energy than Mayamalagowla. Energy here indicates one's mental capacity.
5 centuries ago, Sri Purandara proved this to the world and made MAYAMAALAVAGOWLA as THE CHOSEN RAGA for beginners.
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