Basant
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 31 raga compositions and this raga is the twenty-fifth raga to appear in the series. The composition in this raga appears on a total of 29 pages from page numbers 1168 to 1197.
The name Basant is from Sanskrit "vasant" meaning spring, and during that season of the year, Basant may be performed at any time of the day or night. Otherwise, it is reserved for the night between 9 p.m. and midnight. The Ragmala gives Basant as a putra (son) of Hindol, also a spring raga. Today it belongs to the Purvi thata. But Guru ji used Sudh Basant, which is in Bilaval Thata. 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: | ਸ | Sa |
Samvadi: | ਮ | 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: | ਸ | Sa |
Samvadi: | ਪ | Pa |
See also
- Gurbani Keertan in Raag Basant
- 'Gur Parsaad Basant Bana' ~ A new Album of 3 CDs - 15 Raag Basant Shabads in SGGS ji, sung in various forms of Raag Basant, by Gurpreet Kaur of Gurmat Gian Group
- Raag Shudh Basant
- Gurbani Shabad Keertan in Raag Shudh Basant
- Ragas in the SGGS
- Kirtan
- Raga
- Taal
External Links
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