Miyan Malhar - The unfolding of amazing moods

Now, let us examine one Raga which unfolds before us, a blend of many moods. This is Miyan Ki Malhar or Miyan Malhar, which probably I would say, is the king of all Ragas. Although played typically in monsoon, this Raga is an all time treasure of variety of ironical pairs of moods like happiness-sadness, relaxation-anxiety, clarity-mysteriousness, romance-anger, covering-uncovering of magical treasure and so on. Let me try to demonstrate.
The DNA of this Raga lies in the wave like aggression created by 4 swaras which are Ni(flat), Dha(Basic), Ni(basic) and Sa(Upper in the octave). The unfolding of all those moods narrated above can be felt through this unique sequence.
To experience this sitting at your home, try to put yourselves at a place which is adorned with, all rainy clouds clad mountains all around with valley in front of you, the touch of cool breeze, foggy weather, the sound of a gushing but hidden stream of water, the alternate covering and uncovering of valley and mountains by the clouds and then, the sudden sight of a gushing waterfall from a cliff straight into the valley.
Fortunately, if you have happened to be at such a place, nothing like it. You can just recapitulate those scenes in front of you while listening to Miyan Malhar. If you haven’t been to such a place, just imagine the monsoon weather while you listen to this Raga. You can feel all those moods narrated above, may not be at first instance, but definitely after 5-6 times of focused listening.
The songs based on Miyan Malhar are:
Bol re papihara – Guddi (Vani Jayram)
Giri ghatanye aasaman par - Lata
Baadal ghumadh badh aaye – Saaz
Saavana Ghana garaje bajaaye
Ghiri Ghiri aayi badariyan – Sardar-e-begum

The feeling unfolds like this.

Transition from Flat Ni to Basic Dha – The mood manifested by this aggression resembles to existence of something mysterious, a valley packed with moderate fog, sounds of invisible streams coming from the valley, the aggression of monsoon with stormy winds, sky covered with black clouds and a feeling of anxiety within you, because you are missing someone beloved.

Transition from Basic Dha to Basic Ni and then to upper Sa in the Octave – This wave of swaras gives the sense of the valley getting slowly uncovered, those invisible streams of water suddenly unfolding their aura before you, those gushing water falls with their mesmerizing beauty starting to appear one by one before you, the stormy wind carrying all the clouds from the valley with it, and someone beloved surprisingly appearing before you.

These are just some of the feelings, which can be sensed while listening to Miyan Ki Mlhar consciously, while it is raining or there is rainy weather around you. Believe me, experiencing this relation between these moods created by this raga and their relation with the moods present in the Mother Nature, bestows unending treasures of eternal happiness. Its just a matter of sensing this with your active antennas.

You may listen to some of Miyan Malhar clips at following locations:

Zala (fast tempo improvisation) played on Flute in Miyan Malhar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_2_vTUonjE

Pandit Bhimsen Joshi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu2O21kASKw

Rahul Deshpande:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVQA8fC6OeQ

Pt Shivkumar Sharma:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVQA8fC6OeQ

In the next phase of this blog, I propose to write about a group of evening Ragas, which unfold a treasure of twilight moods in front of you while listening to them.

The Mother Nature and Indian Classical Music

What is that which is so peculiar in Indian Classical Music, which makes it unique? I feel its uniqueness lies primarily in following 3 specialities:
The scientific selection and composition of particular Swaras (Notes), which form the musical structures called the “Raga” and weaving these compositions into rhythmic disciplines called Tala;
The ability of these Ragas to mingle with the moods of the Mother Nature; and
Most importantly, the power of these Ragas to manifest the moods present in the Mother Nature at the particular time when they are supposed to be played or sung.

Let me take an example of a simple Raga, called Raga Yaman, which has 7 basic notes its ascent and descent.
Now, if you play these 7 notes in a fashion Sa-Re-Ga-Ma-Pa-Dha-Ni, they will just sound like 14 different notes. It’s the binding of 2 or more of these notes in a scientific sequence that makes the birth of Raga Yaman. What I mean by this is, if you tie these Swaras in a fashion like
à Ni-Re-Ga-Re- Ni-Re-Sa; or
à Ni-Re-Ga-Ma- Pa-MA-Ga- Re- Ni-Re-Ga-Re- Ni-Re-Sa, it produces some kind of a soothing effect. This typical sequence of Swaras in a particular Raga is called as “Pakad” (meaning Grip) of the Raga, which you can say is the soul of any Raga. This is what I meant by scientific selection and composition of Swaras.
The structures mentioned above are just 2 of the numerous ones which can be developed using the Yaman Swaras, which will continue to give the same soothing effect and this is something which calls for creativity.
You may well ask as to how you can enjoy this soothing effect. The answer is to do a very simple activity.
You would definitely agree with me in saying that in today’s mechanical and hectic world, it’s a very common thing that you return to home being tired and fatigued. This is the very good opportunity to test the Yaman effect. Just try this out.
After you get to home very tired and fatigued, just sit anywhere in your home, put on you discman or music system, dim or switch off the lights (although not a real must) and put on Yaman, may it be instrumental or vocal. If you don’t have specific CDs having Yaman, you may well listen to any of the following hindi film songs:
Ghar se nikal te hi, kucha door chalte hi…..
Jindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi voh barasaata ki raat….
Ehsaan tera hoga mujhapar….
Tum na jano isa jahan mein kho gaye…
The Marathi lovers can listen to:
Tocha chandrama nabhat…
Radhadhara madhu milinda jayjaya…
Naatha ha maza….
Devagharache dnyata kunala…
These are the songs which contain the typical Swara sequence of Yaman, which is obvious, as all these songs are based on Raga Yaman.
Believe me, if you listen in the manner narrated above with utmost concentration, you will literally feel someone beloved is really fondling your back.

Let us see how it manifests the moods of the nature.
Yaman is typically played or sung after the evening dust, which is supposed to be a calm and quiet time to be spent with our beloved ones. While listening to Yaman in evening sitting in your home, close your eyes and just try to imagine yourselves in an upcountry area, lying on the banks of a river or a lake, with reflections of stars and the moon being seen in the river or the lake water in front of you. You will feel that the quietness and the sanctity of the above environment being sprinkled on you through the Yaman swaras. This is what is I call as the manifestation of the moods present in the nature through Swaras, which makes you relaxed and happy.
It is quite possible that initially, all this would not make any sense to you and you may think all this rubbish and not making any sense. But the fact remains that, all these things need to be felt, rather than explained. Whatever it may be, one thing is sure, that once you develop practice of listening to these Swaras with utmost concentration, the feelings which I am trying to explain will start getting into your breath automatically. At least, I experience this daily.
The same sort of feeling can even be sensed through some other Ragas like Haunsadhwani, Shyam Kalyan, Bihag, Nand, Kamod and many more.
In my next blog, I will write about one Raga, which showers the mixture of many moods onto you while listening to it.
Till then, do write to me as to how did you feel about this blog, especially those, who have never tried listening to the Indian Classical Music.