What is a Raga?

A completely different system than what we have in the west. A raga is not a song nor a scale. A raga is not a melody nor a phrase. A raga is not a mood nor an emotion. A raga is all that and more.

- What do you mean ”more”?

Let me explain…

If you compare it with a person, it might become easier to understand.

Think about a friend of yours. She is the shape of the nose, the hair color and body shape, right? That’s her physical appearance. So we can see her from the opposite side of the street and go ”hey, that’s my friend!”. In a similar way we can identify ragas - ”hey, that’s raga Yaman!".

And even though we haven’t met that friend in a long time, maybe she has a different style. New clothes and hair style. Still, we recognize her. That is like a different interpretation of the same raga, by a different artist. It is not a new person. Maybe she gained weight, but it is still the same person.

BUT,

we can also say that the physical appearance of your friend is not your friend. The character and personality is. The soul is. In the same way the raga is not merely its parts. The raga transcends its parts. As the person transcends its appearance. But we need the appearance to get to know the soul.

So by learning a raga, you need the scale, the phrases, the compositions and the mood to get to know the soul. To get to know the person.

We live in a physical world. The body is a physical expression of its soul. The musical framework of a raga is a physical expression of that raga’s soul. Without it there is nothing, and with it there is much more.

Sound can take us beyond the physical world. Deeper into existence.

Learning a raga is like getting to know a person.

You never feel like it’s done. Now you know her. Now it is finished. Maybe you get tired for some time, but then when you meet again you talk and see new things.

Raga is much like a person. Like a friend. And you wouldn’t ask the friend why they have a big nose, or blonde hair. They just do. 

Same approach when learning a raga. This is the raga, now get to know it! Don’t ask ”why is this note like that, or this phrase like that”. Feel how it feels. See how the relationship evolves.

Learn Bansuri and connect with something that is beyond time and form.