S-R-m-P-n-S Among the oldest surviving members of the Malhar family, Megh (‘cloud’) is said to have saved the life of Tansen himself. Legend holds that great composer’s forceful rendition of Deepak caused the waters and streams around him to boil, and all the oil lamps to burn uncontrollably in Emperor Akbar’s royal palace. His efforts to […]
• Raag Megh •
• Raag Jog •
S-gG-m-P-n-S A lively late-evening raga, Jog translates as ‘state of union’ (derived from the Sanskrit concept of yogi). Its oddly bluesy harmony presents an enchanting almost-familiarity to uninitiated listeners, mixing major and minor flavours via a characteristic ‘Gmg zigzag’ phrase in descent (which, via the wonders of convergent evolution, suggests the structure of a 7#9 […]
• Raag (Brindabani) Sarang •
S-R-m-P-nN-S The Sarang raga lineage, often linked to 16th-century mystic-musician Swami Haridas, is also associated with snake-charming rituals of the past. Brindabani Sarang, named for Uttar Pradesh’s Vrindavan region, is the principal raga of this group – and is believed to have brought an incarnation of Krishna to earth when Haridas sung it for the […]
• Raag Malashree •
S-G-P-S Often said to comprise only three swaras (a SGP Major triad), Malashree pushes the bounds of raga definition. Arguably, this challenge is its defining purpose, calling on performers to find expressive freedom within an ultra-limited framework. In practice, this often leads artists to push the raga’s own bounds instead, via including tivra Ma and shuddha Ni […]
• Raag Hemshri •
S-g-m-P-nN-S A night raga created by Gwalior composer and vocalist Vishwanath Rao Ringe ‘Tanarang’, essentially equivalent to ‘Tilang komal ga’. In his own words: “the mood [is] light…a very sweet melody that manifests readily in the following combinations [e.g. SgmPm, gmPnPNNS; PNSnP; PNSgNS]”. Re is banned entirely, while the raga is distinguished from Dhani by the use […]
• Raag Hansadhwani •
S-R-G-P-N-S Hansadhwani translates to ‘call of swans’ – a creature with rich cultural associations in the Subcontinent (Saraswati, goddess of music and learning, is often depicted atop a swan, said to symbolise purity, discernment, and the process of breathing). Originally an import from Carnatic music, the raga’s pentatonic simplicity invites the listener towards the calm […]
• Raag Bairagi Todi •
S-r-g-P-n-S Created by Ravi Shankar, Bairagi Todi replaces Bairagi’s ma with a Todi-intoned ati-komal ga, retaining a concise audav structure while presenting an odd mix of narrow and wide intervals. Often set to unusual talas (Shankar’s original is in Sade-Gyarah, an 11.5-matra cycle divided as ‘4-4-2-1.5’), the raga is explorable in all octaves, with most artists […]
• Raag Rangeshwari •
S-R-g-m-P-N-S Like Parameshwari and Gangeshwari, Rangeshwari (‘Lord of Colours’) was created in 1968 via murchana rotation of Ravi Shankar’s Kameshwari (itself dreamed up during a long car journey through Bengal). Resembles a ‘no Dha’ filtering of either Patdeep or Kirwani, although its swara set seems to be unique – with Shankar’s takes tending towards wide-open, poorvang-dominant […]
• Raag Devshri •
S-R-M-P-n-S An intriguing-but-uncommon audav raga resembling ‘Megh tivra Ma’ (or ‘Vachaspati no Ga/Dha’). Its unique swara set is distinguished by a disbalance in how Sa and Pa are ‘enclosed’ by the swaras above and below (nSR: ‘2-2’, MPn: ‘1-3’) – offering curious contrast with the symmetry of the R–M–n ‘equilateral triangle’ (a ‘4-4-4’ aug. triad). Described by […]
• Raag Tilang •
S-G-m-P-nN-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Shahid Parvez (2020)— [gat, e.g. 6:58] GmP, NS, NSnP, P/n\P, GmG… • 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 | […]
• Raag Sundarkali •
S-r-G-P-n-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Anjani Kumar Gupta (2022)— [alap, e.g. 0:02] (n)S (nSn)P S(nSnSP), P(nP) S(n) rSG r, nSnSr, SnS(nSn)P, nPSn rSGr, PnSGPn(P), P(SnSnP)G, PnSrS, P(nP) n(Sn) S(rS) P(nP) G(PG)r, S(n) PnSr, S(nSn) S, rG (r)… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, […]
• Raag Suha (Kanada) •
S-R-g-m-P-n-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Manilal Nag (1985)— [refrain, e.g. 20:09] RR g(mgPmgm) R(g) R(g) S, n(Sn) SR(gS)R g(mgmgmg), R(gRgRgR), S, n(RS) S(gR) g(m), R(SR) nS(RSn), P(nP)… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see the […]
• Raag Shukla Bilawal •
S-R-G-mM-P-nN-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Manjiri Asnare-Kelkar (2016)— [refrain, e.g. 3:26] GGm, m(Gm), mG(RS), G(mG)m m(DP) (D)G (P)m, G(RGR) Gm; m\R m\R R/P, (GD)P (DP)DPm, G(mPm)G, SG Gm… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see […]
• Raag Nayaki Kanada •
S-R-g-m-P-n-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Shashwati Mandal (2014)— [alap, e.g. 0:58] (nS)R, RRSnSnSR m\g(R) m\g(mgmg)m, m(Pm)P\m mPm/n(Pn)P, m(mnPmPmP)S, (n)S nPn P(m), mPn(Pn)P, P(SnS)nP nPmP, nPm(Pm)nPmP m\g m(g) m(g) g(mg)m… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also […]
• Raag Meghranjani •
S-r-G-mM-N-S As per Abhirang’s performance notes (on his recording of the Pyaari Pyaari Batiyaan bandish), Meghranjani’s swara set is formed by removing the komal dha from Lalit. This produces an even stranger scale form, with two consecutive generic swaras – Pa & Dha – being omitted (a truly rare feature: as far as I can discern, […]
• Raag Madhuranjani •
S-g-m-P-N-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Sawani Shende (2021)— [bandish, e.g. 4:13] (m)P gmPS N P, PmP (m)gmP; gSg mg Pm NP S(NSNSNPN) P(NPNmP) gm(S)P; (m)P gmPS N… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see the […]
• Raag Madhumad Sarang •
S-R-m-P-n-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Kaivalya Kumar Gurav (2015)— [refrain, e.g. 1:23] m(R)m\R, (m)RS, nR, R(mRPm)RS S… • 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 […]
• Raag Madhukauns •
S-g-M-P-n-S A curious ‘Dhani tivra Ma’ scale introduced by vocalist Amir Khan via a ‘ma-murchana’ of Chandrakauns (listen to his sargam-demo of the process below). Full of inescapable tension, with 3 of the 5 swaras being imperfect, and the disbalancing Ma–ni sangati on stark display. Sometimes considered identical to Khan’s Chandramadhu, created as part of […]
• Raag Lilavati •
S-r-G-m-P-n-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Dilshad Khan (1995)— [refrain, e.g. 0:56] Sn(S)r, (r)nS/m, m(PGmG), Sn(S)r, (r)nS/m m(GmrG), Sn(S)r… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see the Full Tag List): Swaras: -4 | 5 | 6 | […]
• Raag Lachari Kanada •
S-R-gG-m-P-nN-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Latafat Hussain Khan (~1960s)— [refrain, e.g. 0:16] G, Gm(G), S S(mRPmD)P, (P)SNS, (N)S nPn\PP, mPnPm\G, (Gm)P P(G)mR, SRG(mG), m/n(Pn)P, m/n(mPGmS)g (S)g(RgR)S(NS), S(mGPmnP)N S(NS)P n(PmPmg) (P)Gmg(S), G… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & […]
• Raag Gaudgiri Malhar •
S-R-g-m-P-n-S [summary] • Raga Megalist (365+) • Search | Glossary | Tags • Hindustani Raga Index • —Pandit Jasraj (~1980s)— [refrain, e.g. 0:56] m(R)R (S)n n(m), mmm P (PmP) m\g(mgm); m(RSnS)R R(S)n n(m), mmm P (PnP) m\g(mgm); RRR(Sn) n(m), mmm P… • Classifiers • Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also […]
• Raag Dhani •
S-g-m-P-n-S Despite its ‘Minor Pentatonic’ scale form enjoying global popularity as the predominant mode of blues, rock, pop, and countless other guitar-driven genres, Dhani is comparatively rare as a raga in its own right – with its swara set mostly being heard as the ‘aroha of Bhimpalasi’ rather than in isolation (…it may be the […]
• Raag Chandramadhu •
S-g-M-P-n-S An angular pentatonic form conjured up by vocalist Amir Khan only a short time before his untimely death in a 1974 car accident – indeed, it is unclear if he ever formally named his new creation (I’ve seen it referred to as ‘Bhushwati’ and ‘Amarpriya’, and at least two posthumous releases just list it […]
• Raag Bairagi (Bhairav) •
S-r-m-P-n-S A pentatonic form introduced to the ragascape by Ravi Shankar in the 1940s. Its swara set – which concisely scatters interval jumps of 1, 2, 3, and 4 semitones – is describable as ‘Megh komal re’ (or ‘Lilavati no Ga’), while its melodies generally draw from the Bhairav–ang (e.g. sustained oscillations on komal re). […]
• Raag Amirkhani Kauns •
S-G-M-P-n-S A ‘pentatonic Vachaspati’ created (as the name implies) by Indore vocal master Amir Khan, which omits Re and Dha (thus, Amirkhani Kauns is to Vachaspati as Dhani is to Kafi). All swaras except Sa are imperfect – with the unusual Ma–ni sangati exerting inevitable gravity and drawing melodies away from clear resolution. Few of […]
