What is a Rāga?
A Rāga is a set of swaras that has its own rasa.
Note: A Rāga must never be defined only as a set of swaras without referring to the aesthetic identity, expression, emotion and experience it brings. Only when that is mentioned will its definition be complete. This implies that a rāga is not fully understood through Ārohana and Avarohana alone; its identity also lies in characteristic phrases, gamakas, and aesthetic expression.
Ārohana and Avarohana
Ārohana and Avarohana define the skeletal framework of a Rāga. It is this arrangement of swaras that depicts the structural boundary of a Rāga. This shows the constituent swarasthānās and their arrangement in Ārohana (ascending) and Avarohana (descending).
Ex: Rāgā: Bilahari
Ārohana: s R2 G3 P D2 S
Avarohana: S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 s
What is Rasa?
A blend of expressions, emotions & experience.
Note:
- The word expression is used because for example, Shringāra is a Rasa. But the translation of it in English is Beauty. And Beauty is not an emotion. It’s an expression. Hence, the word expression is also added to bring completeness to the definition.
- Experience here refers to both what the artist undergoes and what the audience receives. In fact, it is the responsibility and intent of every artist to translate the Rasa of the chosen Rāga.
- Labeling of Rāgas as just one emotion is not ideal because Rāgas are dynamic. Hence, it is understood as a blend. And again, it is in the hands of the artist to bring out the kind of blend he wishes to. For example: Shankarābharana can be played as a playful Rāga. An artist can also present it as a melancholic melody. Another example would be Shanmukhapriya Rāga, which can be presented as Bhayānaka (Fearful or Spooky). And it can also be presented as Roudra (Fierceness)
Classification of Rāgas:
You can read about them in the next blog here.
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