Basant

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This is an Indian musical raga (composition) that appears in the Sikh tradition from northern India and is part of the Sikh holy scripture called Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or SGGS for short. Every raga has a strict set of rules which govern the number of notes that can be used; which notes can be used; and their interplay that has to be adhered to for the composition of a tune.

In the SGGS, the Sikh holy Granth (book), there are a total of 60 raga compositions and this raga is the forty-ninth raga to appear in the series. The composition in this raga appears on a total of 29 pages from page numbers 1168 to 1197.

Raag Basant (ਬਸੰਤੁ) – Basant denotes the changing of the season and the newness of spring. This Raag encourages the mind to brush away its selfishness, just like spring-cleaning removes all the cobwebs and creates a fresh start. There are feelings of hope and expectation of a new beginning and the start of a new cycle. However, these emotions are not dependent on the physical change of the season, but are an encouragement of an internal effort to change.

The only variant noted in the Holy Book is Basant-Hindol. Basant is a very old raga dating back from the 8th century. Guru Nanak, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan, and Guru Tegh Bahadar composed Shabads in this raga. Performed in a slow tempo, this gentle melody depicts quiet joy. The descending scale is usually found at the beginning of a composition with the ascending form following later.

Section Punjabi English
Aroh: ਸ ਗ ਮ ਧ ਨ ਸ Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa
Avroh: ਸ ਨ ਧ ਪ ਮ ਗ ਰ ਸ Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa
Vadi: Sa
Samvadi: Ma

Ragis today prefer Basant Bahar:

Section Punjabi English
Aroh: ਸ ਮ ਮ' ਮ ਗ ਮ' ਧ੝ ਨ ਸ Sa Ma Ma' Ma Ga Ma' Dha Ni Sa
Avroh: ਸ ਨ ਧ੝ ਪ ਮ' ਗ ਮ' ਰ੝ ਸ Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma' Re Sa
Vadi: Sa
Samvadi: Pa

See also

External Links