Why are many raga names ikarantham?

[unixguru88]

As the question says, is it to imply that ragas are female or for some other reason?

[Sivaramakrishnan]

You're right, ragas are visualised as devatas (not devas).

[sureshvv]

Don't think IkArantham automatically implies the female gender. For instance, muni, mathi etc.

[Ranganayaki]

I was thinking the same thing.. to add to the point: Shouldn't we distinguish between Ikaaraanta and EEkaaraanta? If I remember right, most eekaaranta words would be streelinga? (I'm not completely sure)..

While we are discussing that.. I don't think a "devata" is necessarily a female deity.

[sureshvv]

Actually if I remember my Sambamoorthy right there are ragas and raginis!

[PUNARVASU]

Probably Sivaramkrishnan was referring to the tamizh word 'dEvatai' which means a female deity.

[unixguru88]

@ Sivaramakrishnan Do you have any reference of some sort?
@ sureshvv The raga/ragini thing you are mentioning was an old North Indian method of classification of ragas and is no longer used (courtesy wikipedia)

[sureshvv]

@ sureshvv The raga/ragini thing you are mentioning was an old North Indian method of classification of ragas and is no longer used (courtesy wikipedia)

so the new south indian way in vogue now to treat them all as female?

[Ranganayaki]

To cite a few:
"Varamu" doesn't sound "female"/feminine..
"Varali" sounds Masc.
So do "Arabhi", "Abheri" (to me)
"Kalyana Vasantham" - not feminine sounding to me.