S-rR-gG-m-P-dD-n-S
A complex multi-melodic blend named after the Hindu goddess of power, beauty, prosperity, and good fortune (Lakshmi: ‘she who leads to the goal’) – which imports the movements of several other ragas into a general Todi framework. Abhirang’s breakdown discusses “shades of Jaunpuri (RmPSdP; nSRndP), Dev Gandhar (RnSRGm), Gaud (SRGmGm; mGRGm), Kafi (RmPDnS), Gandhari (RmPdmPg; rgrS), and Asavari komal re (mPdPgrS)” – while his own bewitching rendition follows an unconventional up-down path, with double-Re throughout, double-Ga in aroha only, and double-Dha in avroh only. Also recorded by B.R. Deodhar – and close to Bahaduri Todi.
• Raga Masterlist (1000+) •
राग लक्ष्मी तोडी
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• Hindustani Raga Index •
Aroha: SrgrS, RnSRGm, RmPDnS
Avroh: RndP, mPDnS, dndP, PdmPg, rgrS
Chalan: parent motifs – e.g. RmPSdP, nSRndP (Jaunpuri); RnSRGm (Dev Gandhar); SRGmGm, mGRGm (Gaud); RmPDnS (Kafi); RmPdmPg, rgrS (Gandhari); mPdPgrS (Asavari) (Abhirang)
—Abhirang (2021)—
[refrain, e.g. 7:28] rg(mg)r, SRn, SRGm(G)P g(mg)r g(mg)r; SRn, SRGm(G)P g(mg)r g(mg)r S…
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Histories, melodies, mythologies, etc…
—Imagery: Goddess Lakshmi—
“Gaja Lakshmi at the Buddhist Sanchi Stupa: Satavahana Dynasty” [c.100 CE]
• Recent Raga Index Updates (Sep 2026): Melodic ‘snapshots’ of prachalit ragas • Up to 365 raga pages! Some highlights: Bayati, Basant Mukhari, Bilaskhani Todi, Chandranandan, DoGa Kalyan, Jog, Kalavati, Kaushiki, Malkauns, Maru, Meladalan, Parameshwari, Sarangkauns, Vachaspati (+ try out ‘Audav Meladalan‘) • What does ‘Kauns’ mean? Analysing 60+ Kauns ragas • ‘Bifurcations‘: ‘poorvang vs. uttarang’ splits • Amir Khan’s ‘168 merukhands’ • Experiments (e.g. overtonal Bhairav, jazz Malkauns) • Survey of Sa Tunings • More Masterlist ragas (1000+)
Salaman (Toumani Diabaté & Ballaké Sissoko): I’ve loved this composition since ripping it from a Frome Library CD when I was 14… Originally performed by the legendary kora duet on their ‘New Ancient Strings’ album, Based on ‘Tita’, a love song from Western Mali (…the b6 has a ‘between minor and major’ tuning…handled here with a messy bend)
And if you like this stuff then check out Derek Gripper, the true master of arranging Toumani Diabaté for the guitar! @derek_gripper
#kora #worldmusic #mali #africanmusic #guitarsolo @toumanidiabatemusic @ballake.sissoko
Sep 2
Raag Jog: exploring different ways the electric guitar can support a Dhrupad-ang nomtom (syllabic improvisation)…
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
#dhrupad #raga #indianmusic #icm #worldmusic
Jun 28
Raag Kafi: Electric guitar improv around the adha bandish ‘Aaj Khel Shaam Sang Hori’
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
#raga #indianmusic #icm #worldmusic #ragaguitar
Jun 22
Raag Jog: some sawal-jawab (‘question-answer’) fun with Marc Clayton on tabla
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
#raga #indianmusic #icm #worldmusic #ragaguitar
Jun 15
• Classifiers •
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
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
Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball
Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern
Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang
Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.
• Prakriti: Khat (some forms)
Also compare to other members of the Todi raganga
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–rR–gG–m–P–dD–n–S
• Reverse: SRgGmPdDnNS
• Complement: SMNS
• Imperfect: 1 (Ga)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (Rg—dD)
• Murchanas: Pilu (on ma)
• Quirks: ‘maximal‘ (swaras are optimally ‘spread out’)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: (~Kamavardhini)
S-R1-R2-G2-G3-M1-P-D1-D2-N2-S
• Jazz: Mixolydian+Lydian
1-b2-2-b3-3-4-5-b6-6-b7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-1-2-3-4-5-7-8-9-10-0
(1–1–1–1–1–2–1–1–1–2)
o o o o o o • o o o o • o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Lakshmi Todi, Laksmi Todi, Laxmi Todi
• Transliterations: Hindi (लक्ष्मी तोडी); Bengali (লক্ষ্মী তোড়ি)
—B.R. Deodhar (1966)—
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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!
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