Dhaivat

Dhaivat, also transliterated Dhaivata, is the sixth svara (note) in the octave of Indian classical music. In the standard ascending scale used in Hindustani music—Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni—it sits between Pancham (Pa) and Nishad (Ni). In Hindustani practice it is used as a fixed pitch with two main tonal varieties: shuddha Dhaivat (natural Dha) and komal Dhaivat (flat Dha), depending on the raga. Dhaivat can be sharpened or flattened according to the melodic requirements of a raga, and is often emphasized in melodic phrases or used as a pivot note in meend (glides) and gamakas (ornamentation).

In Carnatic music, dhaivatham (dhaivata) is likewise the sixth note of the octave and appears with variations appropriate to different kritis and ragas. The two commonly distinguished forms are shuddha dhaivatham and chatusruti dhaivatham, and the note is rendered with characteristic gamakas in performance.

Pitch relationship and usage vary with tuning and context. In Western pitch terms, dhaivat roughly corresponds to the major sixth above the tonic, though microtonal inflections in Indian music mean the exact intonation can differ across ragas and formulations. Dhaivat contributes to the color and emotional character of many ragas and is taught as part of the svara hierarchy alongside the other notes S, R, G, M, P, and N.