Varnam Library

The three essential Varnams of the Carnatic curriculum — Viriboni, Ninnukori, and Sarasiruha — with full structure and notation guide

Raga Tier3 VarnamsAta TalaBhairavi · Mohanam · Kalyani

Audio Playback

Tempo60 BPM

🎶Tambura

P̣·S·S·Ṣ

What is a Varnam?

"A Varnam is a comprehensive composition that covers all the important phrases of a raga. It is the most important composition in the Carnatic curriculum — after mastering a Varnam, the student has a thorough command of the raga."
— PCM Book 3, Chapter 1

Ata

Tala (14 beats)

5+5+2+2

Ata Tala structure

Purvanga

Pallavi + Anupallavi

Uttaranga

Charana sections

Viriboni

Bhairavi · Ata Tala · Pallavi Gopala Iyer

advanced18th century

Ārohaṇam

S G₂ R₂ G₂ M₁ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ

Avarohaṇam

Ṡ N₂ D₁ P M₁ G₂ R₂ S

Tala Structure

Khanda Laghu (5) + Khanda Laghu (5) + Dhrtam (2) + Dhrtam (2)

Counting: Clap(1) 2 3 4 5 | Clap(6) 7 8 9 10 | Clap(11) Wave(12) | Clap(13) Wave(14)

Pallavi

Viribōni bhāvamulanu

With a heart full of devotion, I sing your praises, O Lord.

Anupallavi

Paripūrṇa kāmā

You who fulfil all desires.

Varnam Structure

PallaviThe opening section. Sung twice — once with solfège (swaras) and once with lyrics (sahitya).

AnupallaviThe second section. Also sung with both swaras and sahitya.

Muktayi SwaraA solfège passage that ends with the Pallavi. Tests the student's command of the raga.

Charana 1The first verse. Sung with sahitya.

Charana Swara 1A solfège passage after Charana 1. Progressively more complex.

Charana 2The second verse. Sung with sahitya.

Charana Swara 2A solfège passage after Charana 2. More complex than Charana Swara 1.

Charana 3The third verse. Sung with sahitya.

Charana Swara 3The final and most complex solfège passage.

Pedagogical Note

Viriboni is the most commonly taught Varnam in the Carnatic curriculum. It is set in Ata Tala (14 beats) — the tala used for all Varnams. The Bhairavi raga's complexity makes this an excellent vehicle for learning advanced raga grammar.

Audio recording coming soon — full Varnam at standard speed and slow speed.

Ninnukori Varamosagi

Mohanam · Ata Tala · Tyagaraja

intermediate18th–19th century

Sarasiruha Nayana

Kalyani · Ata Tala · Swati Tirunal

advanced19th century

Raga Learning Hub Trinity Kritis