mAyAmALavagouLa is the 15th mELakartha(Raaga-main chart) raaga and hence a sampUrNa raaga with Sapta swaras, in the chronological order , in the ascent and descent. The ascent and the descent go thus:
ArOhaNa:    s  r1 g3 m1 p d1 n3 S||
avarOhaNa: S n3 d1 p m1 g3 r1 s||
The raaga is foundational in Carnatic Music System for the basic exercises of Carnatic Music is set in this raaga by Sri Purandaradasaru, “The Father of Carnatic Music”. The probable reason of why this raaga has been picked by dasaru for basic exercises is explained in the audio below. (Pls note that the explanation is only an opinion)

The raaga is quite intense and evokes peace and pathos. The Hindustani equivalent of this raaga is “Bhairav”. The raaga is instrumental in kindling creativity, emotions and sexuality in human beings. mAyAmALavagouLa is associated with SwaadhiSHTaana chakra/Kundalini chakra and hence the raaga, when rendered with devotion, is supposed to awaken the Kundalini chakra.
Famous compostions of this raaga include

• Popular Adithala Varnam- Sarasijanabha – Swathi Thirunal Maharaja
• Varnam- Sree Rajarajeswari
• Tulas? Da?amulac? Sa?t??amuga – Tyagaraja in Telugu
• Meru sam?na v?ra – Tyagaraja in Telugu
• D?v? ?ri Tulasamm? – Tyagaraja in Telugu
• Vidulaku Mrokkeda – Tyagaraja in Telugu
• D?va D?va Kalayaami – Swathi Thirunal
• M?y?t?ta Svar?pi?i – Ponnaiyya Pillai
• ?rin?th?di Guruguho – Muthuswami Dikshitar
• ?hy?mal?mbik? p?him?m – Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna