S-r-G-mM-P-dD-N-S
From my 2018 Darbar interview with Maihar bansuri maestro Rupak Kulkarni: “I created Sonakshi [‘Golden-Eyed‘] so I could experience a raga which was suitable for any time of day. I believe we have different mindsets depending on the hour: in the morning our mood is spiritual and fresh, and in the evening it is has more longing, and perhaps tiredness too. So, to mix these emotions up, I took a few phrases from Lalit and Bhairav [dawn] and blended them with those from Marwa [sunset]”. His new raga – which thus bridges both sandhiprakash – seems to have gone unrecorded (…as far as I can tell: the search is somewhat complicated by the fact that Sonakshi is also the name of Kulkarni’s supremely fun fusion group). Also browse other members of the Lalit and Bhairav ragangas.
• Raga Masterlist (1000+) •
राग सोनाक्षी
Search | Glossary | Tags
• Hindustani Raga Index •
—Rupak Kulkarni (2008)—
(…no recordings found…)
Support open-access, AI-free raga musicology by joining my new PATREON. And to learn raga & filmi tunes on guitar, get started with some online lessons! Currently accepting Zoom students
• Recent Raga Index Updates (Feb 2026): Up to 365 Megalist pages! Recent adds include Asa, Bayati, Deepavali, Chanchalas Malhar, DoGa Kalyan, Gaud, Japaniya, Kaushiki, Latangi, Loom, Maru, Meerabai Malhar, Palas, Sarangkauns, Shankh Dhwani, Shivanjali, Sohini Bahar (+ try out ‘Audav Meladalan‘) • What does ‘Kauns’ mean? Analysing 60+ Kauns ragas • ‘Bifurcations‘: ‘poorvang vs. uttarang’ splits • Amir Khan’s ‘168 merukhands’ • Introduced the ‘complements‘ concept • Experiments (e.g. overtonal Bhairav, jazz Malkauns) • Survey of Sa Tunings • More Masterlist ragas (1000+)
• 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: Purba, Bhankar, Sazgiri, Lalita Gauri
Compare to other ragas from the Bhairav and Lalit ragangas (as well as to other forms which fuse elements of both)
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–r–G–mM–P–dD–N–S
• Reverse: SrgGmMPdNS
• Complement: SRgnS
• Imperfect: 2 (Pa, dha)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: none
• Murchanas: none
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Kashiramakriya
S-R1-G3-M1-M2-P-D1-D2-N3-S
• Jazz: Double Harmonic (dbl. 4th/6th)
1-b2-3-4-#4-5-b6-6-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-1-4-5-6-7-8-9-11-0
(1–3–1–1–1–1–1–2–1)
o o • • o o o o o o • o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Sonakshi
• Transliterations: Hindi (सोनाक्षी)
—Rupak Kulkarni/Sonakshi (2008)—
(Sonakshi the fusion band, not the raga…which I still can’t trace on record)
• ‘Guitaragas’ | My Music •
See more raga-guitar on my Instagram
• Learn ragas & filmi on guitar! •
Share these ragas! My site is 100% reliant on organic visitors – send this page to fellow sonic searchers!
—Join my PATREON!—
The Raga Index will always remain open-access & ad-free: however, this approach doesn’t pay the bills! I put as much into these resources as time and finances allow – so, to hasten the project’s expansion, you can:
• Support the Raga Index! •
—Riyaz-focused notations & bandish—
—Resurrecting rare and ancient ragas—
—Further melodic & geometric analysis—
—Ensuring that high-quality raga knowledge will remain open to all, at no cost: free from commercial motive!—
—Hindustani Raga Index—
An open-ended project seeking to bring North Indian raga closer to all who approach with open ears. Combines direct input from dozens of leading Hindustani artists with in-depth insights from music history, global theory, performance practice, cognitive science, and much more besides!
–Masterlist (1000+ ragas)–
• Search: Find your new favourite •
• Tags: Classifying the ragascape •
• Glossary: Raga jargon demystified •
• Murchanas: Swara-set rotations •
• Thaat: Bhatkhande’s base scales •
• Bifurcations: Poorvangs/uttarangs •
• Ragatable: Analytical connections •
• Kaunsis: Listing 60+ Kauns ragas •
• Tanpuras: Divine overtonal drones •
• Quotes: Musings from raga artists •
• Talas: Hindustani rhythm cycles •
• Instruments: Singing sculptures •
¡Random Raga!
—Search the Raga Index—
(NEW: search by swaras/varjits)
• Feedback / Contact •
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!
• Projects & articles: full list •
(Get in touch for Zoom lessons!)
my site is ad-free, AI-free, & open-access