Hansa Narayani | SrGMPNS | Hindustani Raga Index

S-r-G-M-P-N-S

Taking the shape of ‘Puriya Dhanashree minus dha’, Hansa Narayani also presents uttarang shades of Hansadhwani (PNS): another swan-related raga with Carnatic roots (‘Hansa’ suggests a swan-riding image of Saraswati, the four-armed Hindu goddess of music and learning, and ‘Narayani’ refers to an incarnation of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and fortune: collectively covering two-thirds of the ‘Tridevi’). Seemingly popularised by bansuri pioneer Pannalal Ghosh, – possibly under the original title of ‘Kumari‘ – the raga remains rare, with melodic motions often focusing on Pa and Sa as nyas. Also refer to a short Shree-like take by Bismillah Khan (below), as well as Abhirang’s khayal interpretation. Compare to Amritvarshini (the same scale minus re).

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राग हंस नारायणी

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Aroha: e.g. NrGMP, GPNS

Avroh: e.g. SNPG, MrGrS

Chalan: variable, e.g. GMP; PGMGrS; SP; SSrS; NP; MG; MGrS (Parrikar)

—Bismillah Khan (1996)—

[motifs, e.g. 1:18] (S)P MGM(PM) GrS; SP, PSS(NS)rS (Sr)GrS…

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• Recent Raga Index Updates (Jan 2026): Added new ragas: e.g. Asa, Basant Bahar, Badhans Sarang, Bayati, Chandni Todi, Chandraprabha, Deepavali, Firozkhani Todi, Gaud, Japaniya, Kaushiki, Latangi, Maru, Palas, Sarangkauns, Shivanjali, Shrutivardhini • ‘Bifurcations‘: analysis via ‘poorvang + uttarang’ formulas • DoGa Kalyan & the Beatles’ Blue Jay Way • Amir Khan’s ‘168 merukhands’ • Uncovered Prabhateshwari‘s origins • Transcribed Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar’s ‘Amodini‘ lec-dems • Experiments (e.g overtonal Bhairav, jazz Malkauns) • Survey of Sa Tunings • More Masterlist ragas (1000+)

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Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see the Full Tag List):

Swaras: -4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10+

Sapta: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna

Poorvang: SRGM | SRG | SRM | SGM

Uttarang: PDNS | PDS | PNS | DNS

Varjit: Re | Ga | Ma | Pa | Dha | Ni

Double: rR | gG | mM | dD | nN

Thaat: 10 | 32 | Enclosed | Inexact

Chal: All-shuddha | All-komal | Ma-tivra

Gaps: Anh. | Hemi. | 3-row | 4-row | 5-row

Aroha: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna

Avroh: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna

Jati: Equal | Balanced | Av.+1 | Av.+2

Samay: Morning | Aftern. | Eve. | Night

Raganga: Bhairav | Malhar | Kan. | Todi

Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball

Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern

Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang

Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.

• Prakriti: (none found)

–Swara Geometries–

• Core form: S–r–G–M–P–N–S

• Reverse: SrmMdNS

• Negative: 4-1-2-3-1-1 (e.g. Tilang)

• Imperfect: 2 (re, Pa)

• Detached: none

• Symmetries: none

• Murchanas: none

–Global Translations–

• Carnatic: ~Mandari

S-R₁-G₃-M₂-P-N₃-S

• Jazz: Lydian b2 (no 6th)

1-b2-3-#4-5-7-8

• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):

0-1-4-6-7-11-0

(1–3–2–1–4–1)

o o • • o • o o • • • o o

• Tanpura: Sa–Pa

• Names: Hansa Narayani, Hansanarayan, Hamsnarayani, ‘Kumari’

• Transliterations: Hindi (हंस नारायणी)

—Abhirang (2020)—

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George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Homepage for more, and hit me up for Lessons!