Ragas

 

Raga, in the Sanskrit dictionary, is defined as "the act of coloring or dyeing" and "any feeling or passion especially love, affection, sympathy, vehement desire, interest, joy, or delight".

In music, these descriptions apply to the impressions of melodic sounds on both the artist(s) and listener(s).

A raga is a melodic scale, consisting of notes from the basic seven known as S, R, G, M, P, D, and N. Apart from S and P which are constant, the other notes may be in major or minor tone, and this gives rise to innumerable combinations. Ten basic scales or thaats are recognized, and other ragas are considered to have evolved from these.

A raga must contain a minimum of five notes. Depending on the notes included in it, each raga acquires a distinct character. The form of the raga is also determined by the particular pattern of ascent and descent of the notes, which may not be strictly linear. Melody is built up by improvising and elaborating within the given scale.

Khyal and Dhrupad are two major types of compositions within the Indian classical music. Of the two, Dhrupad is an older form and requires rigourous training in rhythm control as well as voice culture. Khyal developed as a more popular alternative as it contains both slow and lively compositions, though it retains its totally classical character.

Ragas

Adana Alhaiya Bilawal Bageshree Bahar Basant
Bhairav Bhairavi Bhimpalasi Bhupali Bibhas
Bihag Chhayanat Darbari Kanada Desh Desh Kaar
Dhaani Durga Gaud Malhar Gaud Sarang Gurjari Todi
Hamir Hindol Jaijaiwanti Jaunpuri Joogiya
Kafi Kalingara Kamod Kedar Khamaj
Lalit Malkauns Marwa Megh Malhar MiyaMalhar
Multani Nand Pahaadi Paraj Patdeep
Piloo Pooria Pooria Dhanshree Poorvi Raamkali
Rageshree Saranga Shankara Sindhura Shree
Sohani Tilak Kamod Tilang Todi Yaman Kalyan

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Raga Adana
Thaat Asavari
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha n S R M P d n S+
Avroha S+ d n P, M P g M R S
Vaadi S+
Samvaadi P
Time Third Prahar of Night
Pakad M P d N R+ S+, n M P
Prakruti Shringar/Chanchal

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Raga Alhaiya Bilawal
Thaat Bilawal
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha S R G P D N S+
Avroha S+ N D P, D n D P, M G M R S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi G
Time Second Prahar of Day
Pakad D D G M R G, MGMRS
Varjit Aaroha - M
Prakruti Shaant

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Raga Bageshree
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha n- S g M P n S+
Avroha S+ n D P M, MGRS or S+nDM PD MgRS
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad n D MPDg RSR S
Varjit Aaroha - R P
Prakruti Shringar

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Raga Bahar
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Shadav
Aaroha SM MP g gM MndNS+
Avroha S+nDnDP MPg gMRS
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time Forth Prahar of Night
Pakad GMPd, PMG, GPMGr, SN-, Srg
Varjit Aaroha - R, Avaroha - D
Prakruti Shringar/Chanchal

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Raga Basant
Thaat Poorvi
Jaati Sampoorna
Aaroha S G m d N S+
Avroha S+ N d P m G r S
Vaadi S
Samvaadi P
Time Forth Prahar of Night
Pakad m d r+ S+ S+ N d P mGmG r S -N S M mMG
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Bhairav
Thaat Bhairav
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha S r G M P, GMdNS+
Avroha S+ NS+dP, MPM, GMPGMrS
Vaadi r
Samvaadi d
Time Dawn
Pakad G M d P, d M P G M r S
Prakruti Gambhir/Bhakti

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Raga Bhairavi
Thaat Bhairavi
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha S r g M P d n S+
Avroha S+ n d P M g r S
Vaadi d
Samvaadi g
Time Dawn
Pakad SgMPdP, gMrS, SgSrS

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Raga Bhimpalasi
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha n- S g M P n S+
Avroha S+ n D P M g R S
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time Late Afternoon
Pakad n- S M P g, M g R S
Varjit Aaroha - R P

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Raga Bhupali
Thaat Kalyan
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha S R G P D S+
Avroha S+ D P G R S
Vaadi G
Samvaadi D
Time First Prahar of Night
Pakad D- S R G, P G R S, D- S R G
Varjit M, N

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Raga Bibhas
Thaat Bhairav
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha S r G P d S+
Avroha S+ d P G r S
Vaadi d
Samvaadi r
Time First Prahar of Day
Varjit M, N
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Bihag
Thaat Bilawal/Kalyan
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha N- S G M P N S+
Avroha S+ N D P m G R S
Vaadi G
Samvaadi N
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad PmGMM R
Varjit Aaroha - R

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Raga Chhayanat
Thaat Yaman
Jaati Sampoorna
Aaroha S RG GM MP mP S+
Avroha S+NDP RGMP MGRS
Vaadi P
Samvaadi R
Time Second Prahar of Night
Varjit None
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Darbari Kanada
Thaat Asavari
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha SRg MPd nS+
Avroha S+N S+d nP MP gM RSn-SR S
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad g, g, M, RSn-SRd-n-S
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Desh
Thaat Khamaj
Jaati Shadav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S R M P N S+
Avroha S+ n D P M G R S
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad N- r G M m M G, m G r S
Varjit Aaroha - G, D

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Raga Desh Kaar
Thaat Bilawal
Jaati Audav
Aaroha S R M P D S+
Avroha S+ D P G R S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi G
Time First Prahar of Day
Varjit M, N
Prakruti Chanchal

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Raga Dhaani
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Audav-Shadav
Aaroha N- S g M P n S+
Avroha S+ n P M G R n- S
Vaadi g
Samvaadi n
Time Third Prahar of Day
Pakad g M P n P g S
Varjit Aaroha - R
Prakruti Shringar/Chanchal

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Raga Durga
Thaat Bilawal
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha S R M P D S+
Avroha S+ D P M R S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi D
Time First Prahar of Night
Pakad P M P D M R S M R P or D M R P
Varjit G, N

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Raga Gaud Malhar
Thaat Khamaj
Jaati Sampoorna
Aaroha S RG RM GP MPDNS+
Avroha S+D nP MG RG R S
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time Second Prahar of Night
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Gaud Sarang
Thaat Yaman
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha N- S G R MG Pm DP ND S+
Avroha S+ N DP mP DP GR MG P R S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi P
Time Third Prahar of Night
Varjit None
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Gurjari Todi
Thaat Poorvi
Jaati Shadav-Shadav
Aaroha N- S r g m d m g m d N S+
Avroha S+ N d m g rgr S
Vaadi d
Samvaadi g
Time Morning
Pakad m d N d m g r S
Varjit Aaroha - P
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Hamir
Thaat Bilawal/Kalyan
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha S R S G M D N D S+
Avroha S+ N D P G M D M P G G M R S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi G
Time First Prahar of Night
Pakad GMD, PmP, GMRS
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Hindol
Thaat Yaman
Jaati Shadav-Shadav
Aaroha S G m D S+
Avroha S+ N D m G S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi G
Time Forth Prahar of Night
Varjit R, P
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Jaijaiwanti
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Sampoorna
Aaroha S R G M P D G M D N S+
Avroha S+ n D P N D P D M G R g R S
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad DnR RgRS
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Jaunpuri
Thaat Asavari
Jaati Shadav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S R M P d n S+
Avroha S+ n d P m g R S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi G
Time Morning
Pakad m d N d m g r S
Varjit Aaroha - G

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Raga Joogiya
Thaat Bhairav
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S r M P d S+
Avroha S+ N d P M G r S
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time Forth Prahar of Night
Varjit Aaroha - G, N
Prakruti Shaant

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Raga Kafi
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Sampoorna
Aaroha N- S r g m d m g m d N S+
Avroha S+ N d m g rgr S
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad nD,PMgR+ , SS RR gg MMP, P Mg R, g MPgR

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Raga Kalingara
Thaat Bhairav
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha S r G M P d N S+
Avroha S+ N d P M G r S
Vaadi P
Samvaadi S
Time Forth Prahar of Night
Pakad GMPd PMG, GPMGr SN-, SrG
Prakruti Shringar/Chanchal

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Raga Kamod
Thaat Kalyan
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha SRP mPDP S+
Avroha S+DP, mPDmGMRS
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time First Prahar of Night
Pakad MRP, mPDP, GMRS
Prakruti Shaant Gambhir

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Raga Kedar
Thaat Bilawal/Kalyan
Jaati Audav-Shadav
Aaroha S M P m P D n D P m PN S+
Avroha S+NDP, mPM P M RS
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time First Prahar of Night
Pakad SM, P, mPDPM, RS
Varjit Aaroha - R, G
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Khamaj
Thaat Khamaj
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S GMPDN S+
Avroha S+ nDP GMPD GMG MGRS
Vaadi G
Samvaadi D
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad nD MP DS MG
Varjit Aaroha - R
Prakruti Shringar

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Raga Lalit
Thaat Poorvi
Jaati Shadav
Aaroha N- r GM md N S+
Avroha S+ N d m M G r S
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time Forth Prahar of Night
Pakad N-rG MS mD mMG mGrS
Varjit P
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Malkauns
Thaat Bhairavi/Asavari
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha S g M d n S+
Avroha S+ N d M g S
Vaadi M
Samvaadi S
Time Late Night
Pakad d- n- S M, g M g S
Varjit R, P
Prakruti Shaant Gambhir

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Raga Marwa
Thaat Marva
Jaati Shadav
Aaroha N- r G S D N S+
Avroha S+ N D m G r S
Vaadi D
Samvaadi G
Time Evening
Pakad D S mG r S GmG rSS
Varjit P
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Megh Malhar
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha SMRMPNS+
Avroha S+nPMRS+nRS+
Vaadi S
Samvaadi M

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Raga Miya Malhar
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Shadav-Shadav
Aaroha S R P M P n D N S+
Avroha S+ D n P M P g M R S
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad MRP MgSMgS M PMMRSS N-N-S
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Multani
Thaat Todi
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha N- S g m P N S+
Avroha S+ N d P m g r S
Vaadi P
Samvaadi S
Time Forth Prahar of Day
Varjit Aaroha - r, d
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Nand
Thaat Kalyan
Jaati Shadav-Sampoorna
Aaroha D-N-SG MmP DNP DmPS+
Avroha S+ NP Dm PG GMDP RSS
Vaadi P
Samvaadi S
Time Midnight
Pakad DP RSS GS MS P DNSDP PDSPM

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Raga Pahaadi
Thaat Bilaval
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S RG PD PDS+
Avroha N DPGMGR SN-D-P-D-S
Vaadi S
Samvaadi P
Time Sarvakalin
Pakad G GR GPGR SN-D-P-D-S
Prakruti Shringar

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Raga Paraj
Thaat Poorvi
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S G m P d N S+
Avroha S+ N d P m G M G r S
Vaadi S
Samvaadi P
Time Forth Prahar of Night
Pakad S+ NdP mPdP GMG
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Patdeep
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha N- S g M P N S+
Avroha S+ N D P Mg RS N-SgRS
Vaadi S
Samvaadi P
Time Evening
Pakad GMd PgRS N-S

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Raga Piloo
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha N- S G M P N S+
Avroha S+ N d P m P g M R S
Vaadi G/S
Samvaadi N/P
Time Sarvakalin
Pakad GMd PgRS N-S
Prakruti Bhakti-Shringar

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Raga Pooria
Thaat Marwa
Jaati Shadav-Shadav
Aaroha N- r G m D N S+
Avroha S+ N D m G r S
Vaadi G
Samvaadi N
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad G N-rS N-D-SN- m-D- rS
Varjit P
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Pooria Dhanashree
Thaat Poorvi
Jaati Sampoorna
Aaroha N- r G m P m d N r+ S+
Avroha r+ N d P m g m r G r S
Vaadi P
Samvaadi S
Time Evening
Pakad rN-dP mg mrG
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Poorvi
Thaat Poorvi
Jaati Shadav-Sampoorna
Aaroha N-rGmP, mdNS+
Avroha S+N r+NdP Pmm GM rG rGMG mGrS
Vaadi G
Samvaadi N
Time Forth Prahar of Day
Pakad Pm, m, GMrG, mGrS
Varjit Aaroha - R
Prakruti Dhirvir - Shringar - Bhakti

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Raga Raamkali
Thaat Bhairav
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha S r G M P d N S+
Avroha S+ N d P, m P D n d P, G M r S
Vaadi P
Samvaadi S
Time First Prahar of Day
Pakad dP P dndP P G MrS
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Rageshree
Thaat Khamaj
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha S G M D n S+
Avroha S+ n D M G R S
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad RSn-D-SGM
Varjit P
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Saranga
Thaat Bilawal
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha S R M P N S+
Avroha S+ n P M R S
Vaadi R
Samvaadi P
Time Afternoon
Varjit G, D

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Raga Shankara
Thaat Bilaval/Kalyan
Jaati Shadav-Shadav
Aaroha SGRGP NDS+
Avroha S+ND GPG RS
Vaadi P
Samvaadi S
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad SN-PND SN
Varjit Aaroha - R
Prakruti Dhirvir/Shringar

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Raga Sindhura
Thaat Kafi
Jaati Shadav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S R M P D S+ R+ g+ R+ S+
Avroha n D P M g R S
Vaadi S
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Varjit Aaroha - G
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Shree
Thaat Poorvi
Jaati audava-sampoorna
Aaroha S r m P N S+
Avroha S+ N d P m g r S
Vaadi P
Samvaadi S
Time Evening
Pakad S SrGr S PmGr Grr S
Varjit Aaroha - G , D
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Sohani
Thaat Marwa
Jaati Shadav-Shadav
Aaroha S G mD N S+
Avroha S+ r+ S+ N D mG mGrS
Vaadi D
Samvaadi G
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad mGmDNS+r+S+
Varjit Aaroha - R
Prakruti Gambhir - Bhakti

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Raga Tilak Kamod
Thaat Khamaj
Jaati Audav-Sampoorna
Aaroha S R M P N S+
Avroha S+PnDMG, SRGRS, N-SRGS
Vaadi S
Samvaadi P
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad P-N-SRGS, RMGS
Varjit Aaroha - g , D
Prakruti Shringar

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Raga Tilang
Thaat Khamaj
Jaati Audav-Audav
Aaroha S G M P N S+
Avroha S+ nPMGS
Vaadi G
Samvaadi N
Time Second Prahar of Night
Pakad GM PNPMG
Varjit Aaroha - R, D
Prakruti Chanchal

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Raga Todi
Thaat Todi
Jaati Sampoorna
Aaroha S N- r g m d N S+
Avroha S+ N d P m G M r S
Vaadi g
Samvaadi d
Time Early Morning
Pakad d- N- S rgrrS mr g r S
Prakruti Gambhir

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Raga Yaman Kalyan
Thaat Kalyan
Jaati Sampoorna-Sampoorna
Aaroha N- R G m D N S+
Avroha S+ N D P m G R S
Vaadi G
Samvaadi N
Time First Prahar of Night
Pakad N-RGRG, PR, GRS

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Glossary

Indian Music Term  Western Music English Equivalent

Thaat 

Group of Notes to generate Ragas

Aaroha

Ascending Notes

Avaroha

Descending Notes Part

Vaadi

Major Note

Samvaadi

Harmonic Note

Varjit Swar 

Prohibited or Omitted Note

Jaati

Type

Prakruti

Mood

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Last updated: June 26, 2001.