Rati Bhairav | SrGmPdDnNS | Hindustani Raga Index

S-r-G-m-P-dD-nN-S

An idiosyncratic ‘double-Dha’ invention of vocalist Kumar Gandharva (also the creator of Bhavmat Bhairav, Bihad Bhairav, Saheli Todi, Lagan Gandhar, & Madhusurja), which blends Bhairav with Ahir Bhairav. As per Milap Rane, “Rati Bhairav is a jod raga, [with] Ahir Bhairav overshadowing Bhairav…This raga symbolises the union of Shiva [Bhairav] and Shakti [Ahir Bhairav]. The name signifies this union [‘Rati’ is the Hindu goddess of lust and erotic union]”. The invaluable RICMP channel, citing the analysis of Shilpa Bahulekar, offers dha-mixing catchphrases including dNS; mPDnS, SdNS, SDnPm. Aside from a reworked Bhairav tarana, Gandharva left behind only a single dedicated bandish (Aruna Aake Kiran Ranga Phekyo: later picked up by his son Mukul Shivputra). Compare to other ‘double Dha Bhairav’ ragas including Kabiri Bhairav, Tilak Bhairav, and Virat Bhairav.

—Kumar Gandharva (~1980s)—

[refrain, e.g. 18:18] m, (G)m (G)r\S, G, m, PD(N)S, S(nDnPm), m(PDnDnP) G(mG)G\r(G)S, S\d, N S, m, m(P)…

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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

Symmetries: Mirror | Rotation | Palindr.

Aroha: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna

Avroh: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna

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

Samay: Morning | Aftern. | Eve. | Night

Murchana: Bhup. | Bihag | Bilaw. | Charu.

Raganga: Bhairav | Malhar | Kan. | Todi

Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball

Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern

Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang

Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.

–Swara Geometries–

• Core form: S–r–G–m–P–dD–nN–S

• Reverse: SrRgGmPdNS

• Negative: 8-1-3

• Murchanas: none

–Global Translations–

S-R₁-G₃-M₁-P-D₁-D₂-N₂-N₃-S

• Jazz: Double Harmonic (dbl. 6th/7th)

1-b2-3-4-5-b6-6-b7-7-8

• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):

0-1-4-5-7-8-9-10-11-0

(1–3–1–2–1–1–1–1–1)

o o • • o o • o o o o o o

• Names: Rati Bhairav, Ratee Bhairav

• Transliterations: Hindi (रति भैरव)

—Mukul Shivputra (2016)—

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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!