Night Ragas

Raag Malkauns one of the most beautiful, popular and most ancient of the raagas in Hindustani Classical music. Raag Malkauns belongs to Bhairavi Thaat or scale of Hindustani classical music. It is a pentatonic raag and this raag is sung at late night. The name Malkauns is derived by the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears serpents like garlands the God Shiva. The raag is said to have evolved when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava dance. The raag thus evokes a feeling of vigor. And as traditions in Indian classical music ascribes this vigor not to the battlefield but a sense of conquering the self and reaching a state of inner satisfaction. Another tradition derives it from "Malava Kaushik," an old melody that finds mention in ancient treatises. There is, however, no structural similarity between that Malava Kaushik and the present-day Malkauns. This raga is said to have supernatural powers and can conjure spirits if rendered properly. Though a simple pentatonic raga in structure, it requires great skills to convey and evoke the mood of Malkauns. Malkauns belongs to Shaivait musical school. Malkauns is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave and in a slow tempo. Malkauns belongs to the Bhairavi Thaat, its notes are Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. In Western classical notation, its notes can be denoted as: tonic, minor third, perfect fourth, minor sixth and minor seventh. In raga Malkauns, Rishabh (Re - second) and Pancham (Pa - perfect fifth) are completely omitted. Arohana: 'n S g m d n S' Avarohana: S' n d m g m g S, or S' n d m g S The ga used is actually ga Sadharan (the rough minor third) Vadi is Madhyam (Ma) Samavadi is Shadaj (Sa).