Page 4 - Oct-Dec 2017

Ragas and Rhythm

The word raga literally means ‘that which charms or colours the mind’. Each raga is constructed
around the seven swaras of Indian Classical music. A raga, in technical terms, is notes or
swaras put together.

Each raga has a melodic concept or an idea in its most fundamental form which is then
honed and blossomed by the musician. According to art historian Percy Brown, a raga is
one “in which the tune, the song, the picture, the colour, the seasons, the virtues are so blended
together as to produce a composite production to which the West can furnish no parallel.”
Hetanshi Grover, VIII C, bhatnagar International School, Vasant Kunj Illustrations by: Hardika Behal,
SwaRaS Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ambala
Cantt.
Each of the swaras or notes has a connection with nature. Mentioned below is a list of all the swaras, their root word, the
animal which is the source of their sound and the deity that the swara has been associated with.

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni
Swaraj Rishav Gandhar Madhyam Panchama Dhaibat Nishad
Cry of the Peacock Bellowing of a Cow Bleating of the Goat Call of the Heron Sound of the Nightingale Neighing of the Horse Trumpeting of the
separated from calf in the spring Elephant
Agni Brahma Saraswati Shiva Vishnu Ganesh Surya
Anha Khan, X H, D.A.V. Public School, Sec – 14, Faridabad

Raga RULeS RagaS and tIme

The notes in a raga are organised in ascending (aaroha), It has been traditionally believed that the ragas reach
descending (avaroha) order and octave. A raga can be their peak at particular times of the day. For example,
audav (five noted), shadav (six noted) or sampurna (with early in the morning or at midnight; and that if sung
all seven notes). There are some basic requirements of at odd hours, those listening to them will experience
ragas. These are: sorrow and a shortened life. Here are some ragas and
• It must have at least five notes. the hour at which they can be sung:
• There can be no raga without the note ‘sa’. Early morning – Raga Bhairava
• The notes ‘ma’ and ‘pa’ cannot be absent at the same Late morning – Raga Asaveri
time from a raga. At least one should always be Afternoon – Raga Multani
present. Late night – Raga Adana
• A note, along with its altered version can be used in a After midnight – Raga Hindol
raga together but not consecutively. This association with time is only
Manyata Jaiswal, V A, Sunbeam School, for Hindustani music and not
Annapurna, Varanasi Carnatic music.

aCtIvItY: Raga RewInd
navaRaSaS Like festivals, ragas also celebrate the change of
Ragas are known to evoke seasons. Name any one raga connected with the
certain emotions, known as following seasons.
rasas. There are a total of nine Vasanta
emotions called ‘Navarasas’. Grishma
These are shringar, hasya, Varsha
karuna, raudra, veera, Sharada
bhayanaka, bibhatsa, adbhuta Illustration by: Amina Navas, Hemanta
and shanta. VII E, K.T.C.T.E.M.H.S.S. Kaduvayil, Shishir
Kollambalam, Trivandrum

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