Saurashtra Bhairav | SrGmPdDNS | Hindustani Raga Index

S-r-G-m-P-dD-N-S

A unique ‘double-Dha’ blend of the morning Bhairav with the night-time Bhinna Shadja, Saurashtra Bhairav’s movements vary across gharana boundaries. Abhirang, interpreting a pair of Ramrang compositions (Barani Na Jaye Chabi & Aba Main Kase Jaya Kahu), cites the importance of Bhinna Shadja’s mDNSNDm catchphrase – although most other movements fall in line with those of the Bhairav-ang. While the raga’s precise historical path is unclear, it origins are presumably linked to Gujarat’s Saurashtra peninsula region. Refer to renditions by Digvijay Vaidya, Ghulam Hasan Shaggan, Ramprapanna Bhattacharya (on surbahar), and Shrikant Bakre (bandish transcribed below) – and also compare to other ‘double-Dha Bhairav’ ragas such as Rati Bhairav, Virat Bhairav, and Kabiri Bhairav.

—Shrikant Bakre (~1980s)—

[bandish, e.g. 1:57] (Sr)S/ND D(Pm) m(Gm)P, P (mP)G, (S)G GmG G(mGPmG)m G\rS(S), Gm (G)P P\G, Gm/ND SS, SS(NS)NDP, PD(ND)N DP G(m), Gm(dn)d P, (PmP)Gm G\rS, S(rS)S/m P(mP)G Gmd(Pd) S(NS) N\d (P)m P(mP)G, (GmG)m/ND D(Pm) (mG)m P P (mP)G…

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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

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: (none found)

Also compare to other members of the Bhairav raganga

–Swara Geometries–

• Core form: S–r–G–m–P–dD–N–S

• Reverse: SrgGmPdNS (=Devata Bhairav)

• Complement: SRgMnS

• Murchanas: none

–Global Translations–

S-R₁-G₃-M₁-P-D₁-D₂-N₃-S

• Jazz: Double Harmonic (dbl. 6th)

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

• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):

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

(1–3–1–2–1–1–2–1)

o o • • o o • o o o • o o

• Names: Saurashtra, Saurashtra Bhairav, ~Sourashtra Tank, ~Chourayanshi Tank

• Transliterations: Hindi (सौराष्ट्र भैरव)

—Ghulam Hassan Shaggan (~1990s)—

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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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