The Timeless Art of Raga: How Notes and Hours Shape Hindustani Classical Music

  The Timeless Art of Raga: How Notes and Hours Shape Hindustani Classical Music   Introduction: The word Raag comes from the Sanskrit word “Ranj”, meaning to colour or to delight, therefore it can be said that raag is that which ‘colours the mind’. It has been defined in the Vedas as “ रञ्जयति इति रागः " (Ranjayati iti Rāgaḥ)”. Thus, a raga is more than a scale, it’s a melodic framework designed to color the mind and evoke specific emotions. Each raga consists of a specific set of swaras (notes), which are selected and arranged in a way that creates a unique mood or rasa. The major moods that can be produced by a Raag are: Shaant (serenity), Shringaar (love or romantic), Bhakti (devotion to God) and Veer (bravery). A raag typically consists of: Aroha (ascending pattern of notes), Avaroh (descending pattern), Vadi Swar (most prominent note), Samvadi Swar (second most prominent note), Pakad (a short phrase that captures the essence of the raga) and Jati (number of notes u...