History of Raga and Sangeet

Arts & Culture History
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There are many Raga forming part of classic as well as latest pop music. In Indian sub-continent music / sangeet has been part of society since centuries. Th dancing girl of Moen jo Daro proves that music was prevalent at that time. Afterwards, almost all the rulers of the region has Darbari gavayye (singers). Famous musician and singer Taan Sen was one of the nau-ratan of Akbar. Music remained part of almost all the religions of the region, be it Bhajans of Hindus or Qawwali of Muslims, music and raga formed part of religious ceremonies.

So what is the origin of Music in sub-continent?

How the ragas like Darbari, Pahadi, etc came into being?

Is it true that singing Malhar (Sarang) and Deepak ragas lead to raining and starting fire?

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Bhervi, Darbari, Aiman ki mushkil (watch from starting to 3:20)

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It is said that Indian music is so ancient that the story of its conception cannot be traced. The ancient Puraanaas, the religious books of the Hindu civilization, and the accounts and references in them, show that a close relationship existed between religion and music already by 1000 B.C.E. Hence, in order to trace back the roots of this ancient art, one may make use of these books and stories. The musical instruments held by different gods and goddessesfor example, Saaraswati holding a Veenaa (a string instrument similar to the present day Sitar), sage Naarada holding a Naarada Veena, Shankar holding a* Damaru* drum, and Vishnu holding a conch shell show that there has been an artistic awareness of music in India since the dawn of civilization.
**
Krishna and his Bansuri (flute) also show the importance of music is Hindustani culture and religion.**

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Music come in Indian subcontinent as Vedic matras were sung in a specific way, Secondly music was/is taken as discipline hence saraswati, goddess of knowledge holds veena. Shiva's Damru ringing is sign of destruction and Conch blowing generally meant declaration etc. There are various form of classical music, Hindustani and carnatic etc.

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So Carnatic (Karnatic) and Hindustani are different? How the current Raga and Raginis (like Bherwi, Darbari, Pahari) came into being? I read that Ameer Khusro invented / developed many Raga and Ragnis? Were there system of Raga and Raginis before Muslims? Any vedic literature refer to Raga and Raginis?

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Karnatic and Hindustani are different type and then there are various gharanas like gwalior, ajmer, lucknow etc with their own styles, Caranatic is south indian music generally sung in telgu, with various dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, mohiniattam etc. Vedic literature deals with philosophy only. My knowledge is very little in this field:)

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What do you know or whats your opinion about powers of Malhar and Deepak Raag.

(Tan sen singing Deepak Raag 15:00 onwards)

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It is legend that he inflamed every part of Mughal court and even requested Emperor Akbar not to insist of Deep Raag. The other good part of our music culture is that they still follow Guru-Shishya parmapara, as soon as the name of teacher is mentioned likes of Rahat Fatheh Ali Khan, Lata Mangeshkar etc start holding their ears:).

Mantras are chanted not sung, I assume singing is way different from chanting.

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And the guru dakhshana is also a strong tradition. Remember Salman Khan leaving Ash in HDDS. :hehe:

I also think that singing and chanting matras is different, but Ekta Kapoor always tries to make good and catchy tunes of mantars. I myself at a time remembered (or made to remember) half of the gayatri mantri. :smiley:

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pundit muqawee :omg:

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Shrimati barbie stop laughing and contribute something, before I ask your guru (Devi ji - DA) to take a gru dakhshna from you. :slight_smile:

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I m ignorant of ragas but i m fan of music which is sweet to ears..........

as The kaur is here you should ask her about difference of opinion between Tansen and his son........

I read that his son was more into folk music which was more popular among masses...while tansen was master of classical music.:)

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Gr8 point.. now after rebellious Harilal and Dina Jinah, we will be able to put our hands on Tan Sen's son. Here is the story of Deepak Rag and Tan Sen and his daughter singing Malhar. In PTV play Tan Sen by Haseena Moin, it was a character of Tan Sen's lover Tani who cured Tansen when he got sick after singing Deepak Raag.

[QUOTE]

Tansen was a great Hindustani musician. He lived during Akbar’s time. Tansen was one of the nine jewels in Akbars court. The most special thing about Tansen was that he was a music magician. He had so much control over the "Ragas" that he could do astonishing feats by singing them.

A lot of Akbar’s courtiers where jealous of Tansen's privileges. They schemed to set him up for failure. They spread the word that Tansen could make an oil lamp light up with his singing. The courtiers thought that if Tansen fails in doing this, obviously his music skills are just ordinary. But if he succeeds he could die singing the "Raag", because it would produce so much heat, that his body would be burnt. Akbar obviously heard about this talent and asked Tansen to perform the feat, knowing well that some pranksters were up to mischief to harm Tansen. But, knowing Tansen as he did , the Emperor knew he would find a way out of the mess....and he did indeed!

Now Tansen was in a fix. Sure , he could do this feat. But what would happen then? He would surely burn and things around him may burn as well. The only antidote for this was for him to sing "Raag Megh Malhar" immediately after he sings "Raag Deepak". "Raag Megh Malhar" would bring pouring rain and cool him and his surroundings. But surely he would be unable to sing this after snging "Raag Deepak", as he would be very weak. He could not say 'no 'to the great emperor! No one else, he thought, could sing "Megh Malhar".

His worries were evident to his daughter. She suggested that after he sang "Deepak Raag", she would sing "Raag Megh Malhar". "Raag Deepak" would light the lamps. She would sing "Raag Megh Malhar" which would bring rains and cool Tansen and extinguish the flames of the oil lamps around him. Tansen had taught tRaag Megh Malhar" to his daughter.and she was as wonderful and exponent as himself! This was Tansen’s best option. He would sing or die trying.

Day of performance arrived. The emperor’s assembly was adorned with countless oil lamps, which were waiting to light up. Tansen started singing "Raag Deepak '' . Soon the temperature of the terrace started rising. People could not believe the fact that temperatures were soaring. Things started melting. And lo! Suddenly the hall was lit with countless oil lamps..!!! But Tansen was sick with fever! He ran to an open area. He was hoping that his daughter’s singing would work. Back in th village Tansen’s daughter started singing "Raag Megh Malhar". Soon clouds moved in over the village. Yes, it started raining!! Tansen lived!!

If you can't believe this , please visit Fatehpur Sikri , near Agra fort where the Taj Mahal is situated and you will see the terrace where this great feat was conquered. Needless to say, Tansen was awarded by the Emperor and made the Royal singer :)They remained forever the best of friends, and the emperor always relieved his burdened soul listening to Tansen's soulful raagas......

Thats how rich Indian music is , its study will tire researchers but learning won't end............

[/QUOTE]

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Bro i visited fatehpur but no one told me about tansen episode........:(

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Fikar not. Sanjay Leela Bhansali planned to make a movie on Tan sen, who will show you what you missed. :)

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It is very tough tradition indeed, First Gurus will teach and then ask anything in Dakshina. Even in vedic times they asked random thing, Pandits know too much.

though there were nine Navratna, no one reached close to Akbar like pandit birbal, various “Kissa” are famous in Hindustani area and he was pretty blunt and Akbar liked him so much that after his death in siege of kabul, akbar fell ill and couldn’t recover completely till his death six year later.

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:eek: in blue or green shade…:smiley:

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Yes I remember reading stories of Akbar-Beerbal. There was a Door Darshan series on them too. Beerbal and one of other Nau-ratan (probably Mulla do piyaza) also shared rivalry.

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:naraz: He know how to play with colors. Don’t miss his HDDS & Dewdaas.

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what about sanwariya…:cb: