Question

Ga, Ni, Pancham Vakra used in swaras is associated with which raga?

• A. Malkauns
• B. Bageshri
• C. Kafi
• D. Bhairav

Hint:

In Raga Bageshri, Pancham ($Pa$) is extremely weak (Alpatva) and is never accessed directly in ascent. In descent, it is shielded in a vakra phrase: $Ma \to Pa \to Dha \to \underline{Ga} \to Ma$.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept of Vakra Swaras:
In Hindustani classical music, the term Vakra (crooked) refers to a note that is not rendered in a straight ascending or descending sequence. Instead, it is approached indirectly through a curved or zigzag movement of musical phrases to preserve the distinct aesthetic flavor (Raga-bhava) of the raga.

Step 2: Analyzing the Options and Swara Structures:
Let us systematically evaluate each of the given Ragas to see if they fit the description:
• Raga Malkauns: Belongs to the Bhairavi Thaat. It is an Audav-Audav Jati raga, which means Rishabh ($Re$) and Pancham ($Pa$) are completely omitted (varjit) in both the ascent and descent. Because Pancham is totally absent, it cannot feature any crooked or direct usage of Pancham.
• Raga Kafi: Belongs to the Kafi Thaat. It is a Sampoorna-Sampoorna raga, utilizing all seven notes straight and directly without crooked structures in both ascent and descent.
• Raga Bhairav: Belongs to the Bhairav Thaat. It uses Shuddha Gandhar ($Ga$) and Shuddha Nishad ($Ni$). Its flat notes are Rishabh ($\underline{Re}$) and Dhaivat ($\underline{Dha}$). Thus, it does not match the description of having flat (Komal) $\underline{Ga}$ and $\underline{Ni}$.
• Raga Bageshri: Belongs to the Kafi Thaat. It is an Audav-Shadav raga. Its flat notes are Gandhar ($\underline{Ga}$) and Nishad ($\underline{Ni}$). In the ascent (Aroha), Rishabh ($Re$) and Pancham ($Pa$) are omitted ($Sa - \underline{Ga} - Ma - Dha - \underline{Ni} - \dot{S}a$). In the descent (Avroha), Pancham ($Pa$) is used in a characteristically weak, crooked, and indirect (vakra) manner to keep Bageshri from sounding like Raga Bhairavi or Kafi. The typical vakra phrase used is $Ma \to Pa \to Dha \to \underline{Ga} \to Ma$ or $Ma \to Pa \to \underline{Ga} \to Ma$.

Step 3: Verification of the Choice:
Raga Bageshri is characterized by its Komal Gandhar ($\underline{Ga}$), Komal Nishad ($\underline{Ni}$), and the crooked, indirect (Vakra) application of Pancham ($Pa$) in its descent.