The world celebrates the enchanting spring ragas and often tends to overlook the distinctive summer ragas. A raga, in essence, is a pattern of musical notes arranged in a specified order and scale with unique melodic movements. In Indian musicology, classification of ragas relies on attributes like mood, season, and time in northern India whilst in southern India, it’s based on the technical aspects of their scales. Some ragas are innately connected with the Indian summer or grishma season, creating an auditory reflection of the prevailing heat.
Ragas of the Summer Season
Two characteristic ragas of the summer season are Raga Marwa and Raga Sarang. Raga Marwa is traditionally sung during late afternoon extending up to sunset. On the other hand, Raga Sarang, in all its myriad forms, is generally performed when the day’s heat reaches its zenith. The melody of Raga Sarang distinctly resonates with the ambience of the summer season.
Dhrupad: A Spiritual Melody
Dhrupad, a form of devotional music, finds its origin in the ancient text of Samveda. The term ‘Dhrupad’ has its roots in ‘Dhruva’, which refers to the consistent evening star journeying through the galaxy, and ‘Pada’ meaning poetry. Beyond being an evolved classical art form with intricate aesthetics, Dhrupad primarily symbolizes a form of worship where offerings are made to the divine through sound or Nada. One notable feature of Dhrupad is its emphasis on retaining the purity of the raga.
Haveli Sangeet: The Devotional Music of Temples
Haveli Sangeet pertains to the temple music practiced by the Vaishnavites of Nathdwara in Rajasthan. ‘Haveli’ signifies a palace chosen by the deity as their dwelling. This form of music revolves around devotion to Lord Krishna and is rendered through Kirtans, Bhajans and Bhava Nritya. It integrates elements of classical and folk music, with Dhrupad and Dhamar (a taal) being the dominant styles of singing.
Temples Echoing with Haveli Sangeet
| Temple | Location |
|---|---|
| Radha Vallabh | Vrindavan |
| Krishna | Nandgaon |
| Shri Radha Rani | Barsana |
| Sri Nathji | Nathdwara |
Vallabhacharya: A Devoted Sect
Vallabhacharya, a school of Hinduism, is quite popular among the merchant class of northern and western India. Followers of this sect are known for their devotion to Krishna and their association with the Pushtimarg group, founded by the 16th-century teacher Vallabha and his son Vitthala. This sect is renowned for the high degree of devotion shown to its gurus, who are considered earthly embodiments of the god. The primary temple of this sect is located at Nathdwara, in Rajasthan, housing a unique image of Lord Krishna named Shri-Nathaji.
