Ragmala: Difference between revisions

Ragmala

Literally Beaded string of Ragas

The last composition in the Guru Granth Sahib is known as 'Raagmala'. Like Japji Sahib in the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib this composition has no heading to show the name of the author.

Some Sikh scholars differ in their opinion about the inclusion of Raagmala in the Granth. The official/traditional position is that Ragamala is a part of the Guru Granth Sahib and it must be included. And therefore that is stand taken here. Please do not add any Disputed Items Here - Use the Discussion Page to voice your views if they differs from the above. (hss)

Ragmala

The Adi Granth contains the following thirty-one ragas (in the serial order): Sri raga, Manjh, Gauri, Asa, Gujri, Devagandhari, Bihagara, Wadahans, Sorath, Dhanasri, Jaitsri, Todi, Bairari, Tilang, Suhi, Bilaval, Gond (Gaund), Ramkali, Nut-Narayan, Mali-Gaura, Maru, Tukhar, Kedara, Bhairav (Bhairo), Basant, Sarrang, Malar, Kanra, Kalyan, Prabhati and Jaijawanti.

But of the above thirty-one ragas, technically fourteen are ragas and the rest are raginis. It may be noted that no distinction has been made in the Scripture between a raga and a ragini. Ragmala given at the end of the SGGS gives the following eighty-four melodies.

Six are male (parent) ragas; the thirty raginis are their wives and the remaining forty-eight are their sons. Ths list is as follows:

• (1) Bhairav raga

Wives: Bhairavi, Bilawali, Punyaki, Bangli, Aslekhi. Sons: Pancham, Harakh, Disakh, Bangal, Madhu, Madhava, Lalit, Bilaval.

• (2) Malkaus raga

Wives: Gaundkari, Devagandhari, Gandhari, Seehute, Dhanasri. Sons: Maru, Mustang, Mewara, Parbal, Chand, Khokhat, Bhora, Nad.

• (3) Hindol raga

Wives: Telangi, Devkari, Basanti, Sindhoori, Aheeri. Sons: Surmanand, Bhasker, Chandra-Bimb, Mangalan, Ban, Binoda, Basant, Kamoda.

• (4) Deepak raga

Wives: Kachheli, Patmanjari, Todi, Kamodi, Gujri. Sons: Kaalanka, Kuntal, Rama, Kamal, Kusum, Champak, Gaura, Kanra [36].

• (5) Sri raga

Wives: Bairavi, Karnati, Gauri, Asavari, Sindhavi. Sons: Salu, Sarag, Sagra, Gaund, Gambhir, Gund, Kumbh, Hamir.

• (6) Megh raga

Wives: Sorath, Gaundi-Malari, Asa, Gunguni, Sooho. Sons: Biradhar, Gajdhar, Kedara, Jablidhar, Nut, Jaldhara, Sankar, Syama.

If we compare the above scheme with the ragas of the Guru Granth Sahib, we find that only two major ragas - Sri raga and Bhairav -have been included in the Scripture. The remaining male parent ragas, namely Malkaus, Hindol, Deepak and Megh have been excluded. Sri raga is the first raga in the Scripture instead of Bhairav raga of the Ragmala. Asawari used in the Scripture as a part of Asa raga is according to ragmala the wife of Sri raga. The following eleven wives (raginis) and eight sons of the parent-ragas are included in the Scripture:

Bhairavi: Son: Bilaval

Malkaus: Wives: Devagandhari, Dhanasri Son: Maru

Hindol: Wive: Tilang (Telangi) Son: Basant

Deepak: Wives: Todi, Gujri Son: Kanra

Sri Raga: Wives: Gauri, Bairavi Sons: Sarang, (Sarag), Gaund

Megh: Wives: Sorath, Asa, Suhi (Sooho), Malar Sons: Nut, Kedara

There is no mention of Bihagara, Wadahans, Mali-Gaura, Kalyan[37], Manjh, Jaitsri, Ramkali, Tukhari, Prabhati and Jaijawanti in Ragmala.