Bhairav is a

Hindustani classical Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sita ...

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...

of Bhairav

thaat A Thaat () is a "Parent scale" in North Indian or Hindustani music. It is the Hindustani equivalent of the term ''Melakartha raga'' of Carnatic Music. The concept of the ''thaat'' is not exactly equivalent to the western musical scale because t ...

. It is a sampurna raga that is traditionally performed in the morning and also as the beginning piece in concerts. It is the defining raga of its own Thaat. Raga Kalingda in Hindustani and Ragam

Mayamalavagowla Mayamalavagowla (pronounced ) is a raga of Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is classified as 15th ''melakarta'' raga under Venkatamakhin's ''melakarta'' system. Originally known as ''malavagowla'', "maya" was pref ...

Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...

have the same scale as Raga Bhairav, although the moods they create can be quite different due to the way they are expounded. According to Indian classical vocalist

Pandit Jasraj Pandit Jasraj (28 January 1930 – 17 August 2020) was an Indian classical vocalist, belonging to the '' Mewati gharana'' (musical apprenticeship lineage). His musical career spanned 75 years resulting in national and international fame ...

, Bhairav is a "morning raga, and solemn peacefulness is its ideal mood." It is grave in mood and suggests seriousness, introversion and devotional attitude.

History

Bhairav raga is an ancient raga that is considered to be extremely old and originated many centuries ago. The origin of Bhairav raga is disputed. According to some musicians, Bhairav raga was the first raga that originated from the mouth of Lord

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

. While some musicians argue that Bhairav raga originated from the mouth of Lord Surya. This is why it was sung in the daytime.

Bhairava Bhairava (Sanskrit: भैरव ) or Kala Bhairava is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshiped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva associated with annihilation. In Trika system ''Bhairava ...

is one of the names of

especially in his powerful form as a naked ascetic with matted locks and body smeared with ashes. The ragas too have some of these masculine and ascetic attributes in their form and compositions. The Bhairav raga itself is extremely vast and allows a huge number of note combinations and a great range of emotional qualities from valor to peace. There are many variations based on it including (but not restricted to)

Ahir Bhairav Ahir Bhairav is a Hindustani classical ''raga''. It is a mixture of Bhairav and the ancient, rare ''raga'' Ahiri or Abhiri,Bor 1999 or perhaps a mixture of Bhairav and Kafi. Important traditional Compositions Some of the most important tradi ...

, Alam Bhairav, Anand Bhairav, Bairagi Bhairav, Mohini Bhairav Beehad Bhairav, Bhavmat Bhairav, Devata Bhairav, Gauri Bhairav, Hijaz Bhairav, Shivmat Bhairav, Nat Bhairav,

Bibhas Bibhas is a Hindustani classical raga. Theory Bibhas (sometimes also called 'Vibhas') is a pentatonic raga belonging to the Bhairav Thaat. This Raga is sung during daybreak. It is quite similar to Raga Deshkar as changing the Shuddha Dha an ...

Ramkali Raga Ramkali is an early morning raga in Hindustani classical music which belongs to Bhairav Thaat. In this raga, as in Bhairav, Rishabh and Dhaivat are Komal( flat), but the Teevra and the flat nishad are added. The vadi-samvadi are Pancham a ...

Gunkali Gunakri is a raga in Hindustani classical music. Some consider it to be the same as the raga, Gunkali, while others consider the two to be distinct ragas. Gunakri is usually used in the khyal and dhrupad Dhrupad is a genre in Hindustani clas ...

Zeelaf Zeelaf or Zilaf is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It is a pentatonic melody (i.e. containing only 5 svaras) is composed of the following svaras : Sa Ga Ma Pa Dha. It is performed very rarely. Zeelaf also employs the subtle GM -> S meen ...

Jogiya (raga) Jogiya, or Jogia, is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It is based on Bhairav Thaat. It is played at the 1st Prahar of the day, dawn time ( Brahma Muhurt). The name Jogiya came from Jogi, a colloquial version of the word yogi A yo ...

, Saurashtra Bhairav, Bangal Bhairav, Komal Bhairav, Mangal Bhairav, Kaushi Bhairav, Bhatiyari Bhairav, Virat Bhairav, Kabiri Bhairav, Prabhat Bhairav, Roopkali, Bakula Bhairav, Hussaini Bhairav, Kalingda, Devaranjani, Asa Bhairav, Jaun Bhairav, and Bhairav.

Theory

Bhairav is grave in mood and suggests seriousness, introversion as well as devotional attitude. It shares its notes with Ahir Bhairav which has a sombre temperament.

Arohana Arohana, Arohanam or Aroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the ascending scale of notes in a raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The pitch increases as we ...

: Sa Ga Ma Pa Ni Sa'

Avarohana An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The notes descend in pitch ...

: Sa' Ni Pa Ma Ga Sa Vadi :

Samavadi The Samavadi is the second-most prominent (though not necessarily second-most played) note of a raga in Indian classical music. The primary note of the raga is the '' vadi''; the vadi and samvadi are in most cases a fourth or fifth apart. A '' ...

Pakad In Hindustani music, a ''pakad'' (Hindi: पकड़) is a generally accepted musical phrase (or set of phrases) thought to encapsulate the essence of a particular raga. The pakad contains the melodic theme of the raga, on listening to the paka ...

: Ga Ma Pa, Ga Ma Sa Chalan : Sa Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga Ma Sa

Organisation and relationships

Related ragas: *

Bairagi Bhairav Bairagi jaat in Haryana Bairagi is a Hindu caste. They are also called by different names that are Swami, Bairagi, Mahant, Vaishnav, Vairagi, Ramanandi, Shami, Vaishnav , Pujari. They are Vaishnav, and wear the sacred thread. Bairagi caste ...

Mohini Bhairav Mohini (Sanskrit: मोहिनी, ') is the Hindu goddess of enchantment. She is the only female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. She is portrayed as a '' femme fatale'', an enchantress, who maddens lovers and demons, sometimes leading them ...

* Nat Bhairav *

Behaviour

The performance for this raga is solemnly serious. The raga comes across as a musical entity with mood of meditation, philosophical depth, and emotional richness.

Samay (time)

Bhairav is an early morning (pratham prahar) raag.

Seasonality

Bhairav is one of few ragas that can be sung in any season.

Rasa

Bhairav is typically performed with a peaceful, serious, and serene mood.

Film songs

Bhairav is a popular raga for film songs. Here are some film songs based on Bhairav: * "Amma Roti De Baba Roti De" – '' Sansar'', 1952 * "Hanse Tim Tim" – ''Sansar'', 1952 * "Mohe Bhul Gaye Sanvariya" – ''

Baiju Bawra Baiju Bawra (Lit. "Baiju the Insane", born as Baijnath Mishra) was a dhrupad musician from medieval India. Nearly all the information on Baiju Bawra comes from legends, and lacks historical authenticity. According to the most popular legends, he ...

'', 1952 * "Jaago, Mohan Pyare Jaago" – ''

Jagte Raho ''Jagte Raho'' () is a 1956 Bollywood/ Bengali film, directed by Amit Maitra and Sombhu Mitra, written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, and produced by and starring Raj Kapoor. The film centers on the trials of a poor villager (Kapoor) who comes to a ci ...

'', 1956 * "Man Re Hari Ke Gun Ga" – '' Musafir'', 1957 * "Meri Veena Tum Bin Roye" – ''

Dekh Kabira Roya Dekh Kabira Roya is a 1957 romantic comedy film, directed by Amiya Chakravarty (director), Amiya Chakravarty. The tag line in the title says 'The truth is stranger than fiction. Comedy is exaggeration of truth'. Plot summary This Bollywood clas ...

'', 1957 * "Kehe Do Koi Na Kare Yahan Pyaar" – ''

Goonj Uthi Shehnai ''Goonj Uthi Shehnai'' () is a 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I. S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits such as "Jiv ...

'', 1959 * Waqt Karta Jo Wafa" – ''Dil Ne Pukara'', 1967

References

Sources

* *

External links

More details about raga Bhairav
{{Rāgas as per Performance Time Hindustani ragas Ragas in the Guru Granth Sahib