Flow | Practicing “mela pairs”

A challenge to enjoy on a daily basis (30 min.):

Select a popular melakarta raga to get into the “flow” >>
(e.g. the 65th Mecakalyani) before exploring others (01 to 72)
in 36 daily sessions, over and over again – Happy Flowing!

Over a longer period, start each practice session with a mela having Prati Ma for the ascending svara pattern (arohana), e.g. 37 or 72.
Then sing its corresponding mela containing Suddha Ma for the descending svara pattern (avarohana), e.g. 01 or 36.
For the above examples, “mela pair” practice means combining 29 & 65, 01 & 37 and 36 & 72 respectively.
Please note: the corresponding numbers within each pair always differ by 36.

What change does the substitution of “Prati” for “Suddha” Ma effect?

“Even as a drop of butter-milk converts the entire milk in a vessel into curd, the substitution of prati madhyama in the place of suddha madhyama in the uttara melas [“upper” series 37-72] does effect such a radical change and gives rise to an entirely new set of mela ragas.” – Prof. George S. Paul quoting from Venkatamakhi’s 17th treatise Chaturdandi Prakasika (Preface to Ragadhana, 1993 ed.)

To verify Venkatamakhi’s claim, listen attentively to renditions of two ragas figuring prominently in the repertoire of most Carnatic singers: Sankarabharanam and Kalyani (derived from melas 29 and 65 respectively), beautifully sung by Uma Ramasubramaniam (like many others on Raga Surabhi, highly recommendable for all learners and lovers of Carnatic music).