Time theory of ragas

Change is an integral part of life which happens with time. Only the dynamics of time provides discipline. Only people who value time move forward in life and luck also supports them.

Similarly, time has great importance in our music. Playing songs of ragas in time gives us softness, peace and depth. Raag Bhairav is sung in the morning. Raag Sarang is sung in the afternoon. Raag Malkaas is sung only at night. Some ragas are sung according to the season like Ragas Megh and Malhar during rainy days. Raag Basant, Raag Bahar are sung during spring. Raga Kafi is sung and played at any time during the days of Holi. These ragas are also called seasonal ragas.

Purvanga and Uttarang Vaadi Raga :-

The first part of the octave (Saptak), S R G M is called Purvanga and the second part P D N San is called Uttarang. The ragas whose Vaadi swara is from the first part of saptak are called Purvagavadi Ragas. These ragas are sung from 12 noon to 12 midnight. The ragas whose Vaadi note (Swar) is from the second part of the octave (Saptak) are called Uttarangavadi ragas. These ragas are sung and played from 12 o'clock at night to 12 o'clock in the day.

Keeping in mind the pure and soft notes, the virtuous people have created three classes of ragas which are as follows:-

(1) R D soft toned ragas

(2) R D ragas with pure notes

(3) G N Ragas with soft notes

(1) The ragas having soft notes R D:-

Songs are played in the morning and evening from 4 to 7 o'clock. These ragas are called Sandhiprakash Ragas. Ragas sung in the morning are called morning Sandhi Prakash Ragas like Raag Bhairav. Ragas sung in the evening are called evening sandhi prakash ragas like Marwa and Purvi. Pure M is used in morning ragas. In the evening ragas, sharp is used.

(2) R D ragas with pure notes:-

These ragas are sung and played from 7 to 10 in the morning and from 7 to 10 in the night. The identity of these ragas is that in these ragas 'R', 'G' and 'D' swaras are used pure. Ragas sung from 7 to 10 in the morning are Raag Asavari, Raag Bilawal etc. The ragas sung from 7 to 10 pm are Kedar, Hamir Bhupali etc.

(3) Ga Ni raga with soft notes:-

Ragas of this category are sung and played from 10 to 4 in the day and from 10 to 4 in the night. The identity of these ragas is that 'G' in them is definitely soft. Ragas sung from 10-4 pm in the day like: Jaunpuri, Sarang, Bhimpalasi etc. Ragas like Darbari Kanhada, Malkans etc. are sung from 10 to 4 in the night.

Seasonal raga :-

These ragas are sung and played at any time according to the season. For example, during rainy days, ragas like Megh and Malhar are sung. Raag Basant, Raag Bahar and their variants are sung in the spring season. During Holi, the raag Kafi is sung at any time. According to the season, these ragas provide a lot of pleasure in singing and listening.

Importance of the semi-circular vowel 'M':-

This means the note indicating the time of the ragas. In the ragas sung during day time, pure 'M' sounds, Whereas in the ragas sung during night time, sharppredominates. After 12 o'clock in the night the effect of intensestarts reducing. Some ragas are exceptions to this rule like Raga Durga and Raga Desh. But where is there no exception? During the day, pure M predominates in ragas Sarang and Bilawal. At night, Ragas like Marwa, Purvi etc. have predominance of Sharp . Therefore we can say that the Adhvadarshak swara 'M' has an important place in the time theory of ragas.

conclusion :-

There is no doubt that the pleasure one gets by playing the ragas at the right time is not the same at any other time. But morning ragas like Bhairav, Todi, Ramkali etc. are not heard on the stages because music conferences often take place in the evening or at night. Therefore the morning ragas have been left behind from this point of view. Second, of course, in schools and colleges, night ragas are taught during the day, but in inter-school college competitions or on big stages, importance is given to singing ragas on time, the singers also want to listen more and from the people also. Even if we criticize this principle a million times, we find happiness only by living within the rules.