If you browse a list of raag names, it feels like reading a mix of mythology, geography, history, and personal stories. Raag names often reveal something about their origin or the imagination of the musicians who created or propagated them.
Names from deities
Some raags are linked to Hindu deities or divine qualities:
- Kedaar – associated with Lord Shiva (Kedarnath).
- Bhairav – a fierce form of Shiva.
- Gauri, Durga – forms of the Goddess.
Names from tribes or communities
Other raags reflect communities or ethnic groups:
- Ahiri, Asavari, Gujari – possibly linked to tribal or regional melodies with similar names.
Names from places
Geography also plays a role:
- Marwa – associated with the Marwar region in Rajasthan.
- Jaunpuri – linked with the city of Jaunpur.
- Pahadi – literally “of the mountains”, often evoking folk tunes from hilly regions.
Names from creators and legends
Some raags are named after the maestros who shaped them:
- Miya ki Todi, Miya ki Malhar – traditionally attributed to the legendary Miya Tansen.
- Bilaskhani Todi – linked to Tansen’s son, Bilas Khan.
- Darbaari Kanada – associated with royal courts (“darbar”) and the Kanada family of raags.
- Gorakh Kalyan – associated with the saint Gorakhnath, with stories about how it was sung to bring his guru back.
- Kalashree – created by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi as a blend of Kalawati and Bageshree.
Not every raag name has a perfectly traceable history, and some stories are more legend than fact. But they all remind us that raags are part of a living culture, not just abstract scales.