MALGUNJI - THE MAGICAL CHAIN (IN ENGLISH)
In our Hindustani classical music there are combination
raagas (Jod Raagas) in which the raaga is formed by a combination of two raagas. Likewise there are also some raagas which are not combination raagas but
still have a beautiful blend of 2 or more raagas in it. In such raagas there is
no deliberate effort to simultaneously show the combination and mixture of raagas
like we do in Combination Raagas. The blend in such raagas is so nicely
interwoven that it is a natural process. We cannot term such raagas as Combination
Raagas. Such raagas appear like natural raagas which have a different essence
and flavour of their own.
Today we will focus on one such raaga. This raaga is complex
but it is also very sweet, melodious and royal. Name of the raaga is Malgunji.
Malgunji is a beautiful blend of Bageshree and
Rageshree. It also has a shade of
Jaijaiwanti in it. When I am saying it’s a blend, we don’t show these raagas on
purpose in Malgunji. But we certainly get to see these three raagas woven in a
beautiful chain in Raaga Malgunji.
Let us throw a glance on the swaras of this beautiful raaga
:-
Malgunji is sung in 3rd prahar of the night. This
is a raaga built on some peculiar phrases. These phrases are integral
part of the raaga. In this raaga there are 2 Gandhars, Komal Nishad and all
rest swaras are shuddha. Malgunji has all the seven swaras but the pattern of
the raaga is zig zag in nature. In the Aaroh Pancham is omitted and in the
Avroh all the swaras are there. The most prominent swara of this raaga is the
Shuddha Madhyam. The 2 main swaras in this raaga on which we can rest and stop
are Shuddha Madhyam and Shadja. The Shuddha Gandhar mostly comes in the Aaroh
while the Komal Gandhar comes most times in the Avroh.
The phrases of Bageshree, Rageshree and Jaijaiwanti which
are seen in this raaga are as follows :-
Bageshree : ‘MA DHA NI
SA, DHA NI RE SA, MA GA RE SA’, sometimes ‘DHA NI SA GA
RE SA’ is also done.
Rageshree : ‘DHA NI SA GA MA, GA MA DHA NI SA’,
sometimes ‘DHA NI SA GA RE SA’ is also done.
Jaijaiwanti : ‘PA DHA NI DHA PA MA GA, RE GA MA PA MA GA’.
Apart from this there are few phrases which add to the
flavour of Malgunji. They are as follows :-
1) Many times Shuddha
Rishabh is also added in the phrase ‘DHA NI SA GA’ which makes it ‘DHA NI
SA RE GA’.
2) Also sometimes the usual ‘SA GA MA DHA NI DHA’ is
replaced by ‘SA RE MA PA DHA’.
3) Sometimes ‘MA SA’ is also done like – DHA NI SA RE
GA MA, MA SA’.
Main phrases of Malgunji :-
‘DHA NI SA RE GA, MA MA GA RE GA MA, MA GA RE
SA, DHA NI SA GA, MA SA, SA RE MA PA DHA, PA DHA NI DHA PA MA GA
RE GA MA, MA GA RE SA, SA GA MA DHA NI DHA, NI SA, NI
RE SA, RE SA NI SA NI DHA, PA DHA NI DHA PA MA GA, RE GA
MA GA RE SA’.
This is not a Raaga to be sung for a very long duration.
Malgunji has to be presented in a fluent and fluid manner. To sum up I would
say Malgunji is a chain which weaves 3 raagas in one and creates sheer magic. Malgunji’s nature is surely complex but if we get to know the in’s and out’s
of this raaga well, then this raaga is as sweet as any other raaga.
Shri. Sameer Abhyankar.
RAAGA MALGUNJI PERFORMED BY MY GURU PT. YASHWANTBUA JOSHI. DO LISTEN IT ๐
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