Shankara (raga)

Shankara is a raga in Hindustani classical music.

Origin

The raga emerges from Bilawal thaat.

Technical description

The raga is of audav-shadav nature, i.e., it has five swaras (notes) in the arohana (ascent) and six in the avarohana (descent). All the swaras are used are shudhha swaras, no komal swara is used. It is an Uttaranga pradhan raga, with the higher notes on the saptak (octave) being used more frequently.

Arohana: Sa Ga Pa Ni Dha Sa Ni Sa.

Avarohana: Sa Ni Dha Pa, Ga Pa Ga (Re) Re Sa.

Pakad: Sa Ni Pa Ga Pa, Re Ga Re Sa.

The vadi swara is Ga, and the samvadi is Ni. The rishabh (Re) is very weak, but yet significant in the way it supplements the gandhar (Ga).

Samai (time)

This proper time to sing this raga is supposed to be the last phase of night.

See also

• Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia