Mayamalavagowla is recognized as the first scale to be learned by a beginner in Purandara Dasa's teaching?

• A. Mayamalavagowla
• B. Raga Bhairavi
• C. Chandrika
• D. Todhi

Answer: (A)

In Purandara Dasa’s teaching, starting with a single, straightforward seven-note framework gives a solid footing for tuning, note recognition, and early practice. Mayamalavagowla is chosen because its scale presents all the basic swaras in a simple ascent and descent, providing a stable reference for pitch accuracy and the foundational exercises students begin with. Learning this raga first lets the learner internalize the relative positions of the notes and build confidence through familiar patterns before moving on to more complex ragas. The other ragas listed are generally introduced later, once the student has established basic technique and pitch control.