Rules for a Raga

Raga- the rules

Though we define a Raga as a Collection of notes which has ability to entertain, there are some rules which a Raga must follow. These rules are not without any reason. To entertain people, the basic requirement is that there should be a dialogue between the different notes. How emotions are produced? Emotions are produced when two notes communicate. A single note can never produce emotion. It needs some another note to have a dialogue with. So, these rules take care that this dialogue.

1.    Raga should have a minimum of 5 notes.

It is desired that a Raga must have atleast 5 notes. Otherwise it becomes quite difficult to maintain the dialogue and to create the moods using only five notes. There is an exception to this rule. A Raga named Bhavani has only 4 notes.

2.    The first note, i.e. Saa cannot be omitted in a Raag

Saa  is the foundational note or Swar. The meaning of term Shadja means the one who has given birth to other six notes. So, it is not allowed to omit this foundational note.

3.    There are two Swar or notes which are most dominantly used in the Raga. They are called as Vadi and Samvadi. This rule says that these two notes should not lie in in the same half of the octave.

               These are three vary basic rules for building a Raga. The deeper ones will be discovered with the time…..

A glance at the Basics-

What is a Raga?