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Shankara - Lord of Ragas By Rajan P. Parrikar Rajan P. Parrikar is a recognized expert on Indian Classical music and shares his knowledge freely with those interested in the subject. He has written a series of articles on Classical Indian Music some of which have been archived on Sawf. Click here to read Rajan's earlier articles.

Rajan P. Parrikar in Boulder, Colorado (1991)

Namashkar.

Lord Shiva and His primal association with music and dance have long been a source of joy and inspiration to Indians. The Shiva leitmotif is a powerful stimulus to many an intoxicated soul, a spoor to the creative impulse as it searches for the ideal sounded in the famous apothegm: Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Raga Shankara's immense popularity and prestige derive not merely from a share in the Lord's name. The rAga is also the musical embodiment of His personality, comporting with all its attributes: raudra, veera, irrascible, volatile, capricious and, above all, cool. This high-powered melody is the subject of our present expose'. Throughout the ride, M=shuddha and m=teevra madhyam.

Raga Shankara

The shADava jAti Raga Shankara (pronounced 'shankarA') employs all the shuddha swaras except the madhyam and is filed under the Bilawal thAT corresponding to the 29th Carnatic melakartA, Shankarabharanam. Two definitive threads constitute Shankara's woof and they are (the swara in parenthesis represents the kaN imparted to the one following it):

(1) S (P)G P, P (R)G-->S (poorvAnga marker)

(2) G P N D S" N (uttarAnga marker)

Let us amplify on the dominant themes. In (1) above, the gandhAr receives a tug of the pancham in Arohi - S (P)G P - and a kaN of the rishab in avarohi - i.e., G P (R)G - sanchAris. The "-->" placed between G and S signifies a meenD-laden retreat grazing the rishab en route (a la Bihag). The rishab's role is paradoxical - it is durbal (weak) yet very vital for the manner in which it services G and P.

In the uttarAnga signpost (2), the nyAsa on N following G P N D S" N is vital. An AbhAsa of Bihag prevails but the absence of M keeps it in check. The Bihag-like movement N-->P, grazing D along its declining locus, is the uttarAnga foil for the G-->S gesture indicated earlier; a little reflection shows how the Bihag presence permeates Shankara's strata.

Obiter dicta: P and N are crucial nyAsa sthAnas. The rishab is occasionally brightened for effect in the tAra saptak as in, say, PP N S" R, S". This may induce a tirobhAva due to Hamsadhwani where there is a premium on the rishab. The dhaivat is subdued, descried in quick clusters such as SGPDPP or GPDGP. The aprachalita Raga Malashree (to be treated later in this feature) has a mild alliance with Shankara but there the dhaivat is varjita. Comparisons are often drawn between Shankara and Hamsadhwani but the points of departure are significant and should be evident by now. Straight up and down runs, the norm in Hamsadhwani, do not sit well with Shankara. Instead, the tAns are conceived in zigzagging clusters such as SGPDPPNDPP, GPNDS"NPP and so on.

The foregoing discussion is now fortified by a demonstration specialized to underscore the intonational behaviour sought. An Aroha/avarohana set is first proposed (D and R are not explicitly depicted in the grazing instances described earlier):

S, (P)G P, N D S" N, S" :: S" N-->P, G P (R)G-->S

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/aroha_avaroha.ram

A sample chalan ropes in the highlights (the square bracket around S" signifies the gamaka centred around it):

S (P)G P, G P N D [S"] N, G P N S"

P N S" G"-->[S"] N, P N D S" N-->P, G P DG P (R)G-->S

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/chalan.ram

The voice in the samples above is Nachiketa Sharma.

K.L. Saigal -- >

Assembled on the Shankara tableau are many of the finest recordings extant. The rAga is well-behaved throughout the Hindustani landscape, its dhAtu regnant across almost all stylistic and regional schools. The variations, where they prevail, are primarily in the pramANa (proportion) and manner of the use of rishab. The textual content of most of the compositions speaks to the Lord's visage and mien. I intend to keep the commentary terse from this point on as we make our way through the catalogue.

We inaugurate the proceedings with K.L. Saigal's gem, composed by Khemchand Prakash for the movie TANSEN (1943). The mise-en-scène has Saigal-sahab pacifying an agitated pachyderm: rum jhum rum jhum chAla tihAri kAhe bhayi matwAri -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/klsaigal.ram

Saigal's tsunamic splashdown on the Indian musical shores in the early 1930s brought with it radically new waves of musical expression. The germ of Pandit Kishore Kumar's gAyaki can be laid directly at Saigal's door. Under Rajesh Roshan's direction in DES PARDES (1978) Panditji offers a twist on Shankara -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/kishorekumar.ram

From SUSHEELA (1963), Mubarak Begum, for composer C. Arjun: bemuravvata bewafA -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/mubarakbegum.ram

< -- Dinanath Mangeshkar ("Master Dinanath")

The brilliant Dinanath Mangeshkar of Goa died young (in 1942) but his samskArAs live on in his daughters Asha and Lata. Among his most famous renditions: Shankara bhanDAra bole -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/dinanath.ram

Shankara's virile bearing comes to flower in the intonational certitude peculiar to Dhrupad-Dhamar gAyaki. N. Zahiruddin and N. Faiyazuddin Dagar's dhamAr: chauNka paRi ho -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/dagars.ram

A beautiful dhrupad, set to sooltAla of 10 mAtrAs, from a live Gundecha Brothers performance: vAruN ri mriga drgana ko -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/gundechas.ram

Siyaram Tiwari's full-bodied, forceful style originates in a different stream of the Dhrupad tradition, with its roots in Darbhanga in Bihar. Another dhrupad in sooltAla: Hara Hara Mahadeva -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/siyaramtiwari.ram

Basavraj Rajguru -- >

The canonical vilambit kHayAl of "Manrang" invokes Lord Shankara while paying tribute to the Khayal pioneer, Nyamat Khan "Sadarang." Basavraj Rajguru's beautiful performance in this old AIR recording: Ada Mahadeva been bajA'i, Nyamat Khan piyA Sadarang kara karama dikhA'i -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/rajguru_vil.ram

Bhimsen Joshi has published some forgettable Shankaras in the 1980s. This cut of a traditional chestnut, so jAnu re, passes muster. Keep your ears peeled for the brush with teevra madhyam (a la Shuddha Kalyan), first heard ~ 0:34 into the clip -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/bhimsen.ram

Roshanara Begum redraws the popular druta cheez, mAthe tilaka dhAre, fitting it to vilambit ektAla -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/roshanara.ram

An impassioned cri de coeur by Anjanibai Lolienkar (of Agra Gharana): balamA balamA balamA -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/anjanibai.ram

Mr. Jasraj (of Viagra Gharana) responds by lending a free hand to his spiritual libido. The musician in Banditji occasionally threatens to break out: vibhushitAnanga riputtamangA -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/banditji.ram

< -- Abdul Karim Khan

Abdul Karim Khan's felicity with swara is written all over this recording. The caress of the dhaivat at ~ 6s is delicious. Watch out for a Hamsadhwani-like PNS"R G (~ 0:35) : eri Aja suhAga -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/akk.ram

Also check out this 1905 vintage Tarana by Abdul Karim Khan -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/akk_tarana.ram

Several renditions of the very popular cheez kala nA pAre are in circulation. My pick is the stylish assay by Sawai Gandharva:

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/sawai.ram

Kumar Gandharva -- >

Kumar Gandharva makes the dust fly in an erumpent display. The composition is his very own:

sira pe dhari Ganga, kamara mruga chhAlA
munDaki galamAla, hatheli soola sAje
Pinaki mahAgyAni, ajaba roopa dhAre
Dulata Dula Ave, Dimaru Dima bAje

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/kumar.ram

A habit of listening regularly to Kesarbai has the side effect of rendering one intolerant of mediocrity. Everything about her music is stupendous and those tAns, the living end. In madhya laya jhaptAla, Aye ri -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/kesarbai.ram

< -- Kishori Amonkar

My choice for the finest Shankara in this collection, perhaps the greatest Shankara recording there is: an unpublished mehfil of Kishori Amonkar. It is only given to those possessed few to do music at this level. The traditional bandish, anAhata Ada nAda bheda na pAyo -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/kishori.ram

Basavaraj Rajguru re-appears in a home mehfil with an Agra hottie conceived by one of that school's influential composers, Tasadduq Hussain Khan "Vinod Piya" of Baroda. Take measure of the syncopation: aiso dheeTa langara kare jhakajhori -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/rajguru_druta.ram

Ramashreya Jha "Ramrang" has composed some delightful melodies in Shankara, most of them yet unpublished. His Shiva-stuti is informally sketched by Shubha Mudgal especially for the Sawf feature:

chandramA bhAla birAje, jaTA birAje sira rAje Ganga
GajAnana-ShaDAnana sohe sanga Gouri leenhe mana mohe
'Ramrang' ramAye bhabhuta anga

Shubha Mudgal taking tAleem from Ramashreya Jha "Ramrang" -- >

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/shubhamudgal.ram

Swara-smithing is Bismillah Khan's forte and his old AIR recording pure ear candy -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/bismillah.ram

In his day, Rajab Ali Khan (1874-1959) was known as much for his tremendous musical acumen as for his picaresque ways. A master vocalist, he was also proficient on the Rudra Veena, Sitar and Jala-Tarang. Several musicians of high standing learnt from him, among them his precocious nephew Amanat Khan (and through Amanat Khan the influence extended to Amir Khan), Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik, Ganpatrao Dewaskar and others. Lata Mangeshkar is said to have taken tAleem from Rajab Ali during her apprenticeship under Amanat Khan in Mumbai. Note that Amanat Khan (Rajab Ali's nephew) and Aman Ali Khan (Bhendibazarwale) are two different musicians (Amir Khan was influenced by both of them). I would like to thank Jyoti Swarup Pande and Debashish Chakravarti for their input in clarifying this.

< -- Bismillah Khan

Prof. B.R. Deodhar's published analects contain several charming stories of Rajab Ali (see Appendix). Some of his archived recordings have been made available in recent years, among them a Shankara. We have heard this bandish earlier: mAthe tilaka dhAre -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/rajabalikhan.ram

That cheez also shows up with a slightly emended mukhDA as witness the Gwalior treatment by Narayanrao Vyas: mAthe teri dhAra -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/narayanvyas.ram

It is also Mohammad Hussain Sarahang's choice for a soiree in Kabul -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/sarahang.ram

Our show concludes with an old Gwalior favourite, sANwal Do mhANe bhAyo, by Malini Rajurkar -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/rajurkar.ram

Three basic, traditional prakArs of Shankara - Shankara Bharan, Shankara Karan and Shankara Aran - have been recognized and all of them have gone out of fashion. Furthermore, no consensus prevails on their swaroopa. A hybrid involving Kedar and Shankara known as Adambari Kedar, has been discussed in an earlier feature (see On the Variants of Kedar). In the remainder of this article we briefly address a few allied Shankara melodies.

Raga Shankara Bharan

The few old surviving dhrupads are at sixes and sevens over the nature of this rAga. Typically, the basic Shankara frame is extended with one or both the madhyams. In the version advanced by Ali Akbar Khan, a soupcon of Bihag and Kalyan is introduced via the two madhyams. The teevra madhyam is subtle, a la Shuddha Kalyan: P->m->G. The phrase, G M N->D->P, stands out.

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/aak_shankarabharan.ram

Raga Shankara Karan

Mr. Alubhai virtually eliminates the rishab and ropes in elements of Khamaj via the komal nishAd. The play with the two nishAds is masterly, so are the prayogas involving the madhyams.

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/aak_shankarakaran.ram

K.G. Ginde -- >

K.G. Ginde purveys a very different Shankara Karan. Here, too, the rishab is severely diminished. One madhyam, the teevra, is used in sentences to evoke chhAyAs of both Kalyan and Hindol. The compositions are due to Ginde's guru, the great vAggeyakAra, S.N. Ratanjankar.

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/ginde_shankarakaran.ram

Raga Shankara-Bihag

Rais Khan exploits the collegial kinship of Shankara and Bihag to put together a winsome hybrid:

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/raiskhan_shankarabihag.ram

An enchanting recital in this joD-rAga by the grand old man of Gwalior and one of India's great vocal masters, Krishnarao Shankar Pandit: nijapada davi atritanayA -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/krsp_shankarabihag.ram

Raga Malashree

This is an old rAga, distinguished by its use of just four swaras: S, G, P, N. The nishAd is alpa which further reduces the tonal space for elaboration. In performance, however, the teevra madhyam is sometimes employed as in, for instance, P-m-G. Pandit Ramashreya Jha "Ramrang" gives us a tonal briefing peppered with pertinent remarks -

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/jha_malashree.ram

We ring down the curtain on this feature with a selection of Alubhai's Malashree:

http://www.sawf.org/audio/shankara/aak_malashree.ram

Acknowledgements:

My heartfelt thanks to Romesh Aeri, Ashok Ambardar, Ajay Nerurkar, Guri Singh and Anita Thakur.

Appendix

< -- Rajab Ali Khan (1874-1959)

Rajab Ali Khan's capers have been recorded in Prof. B.R. Deodhar's book Pillars of Hindustani Music (Popular Prakashan). Some excerpts:

...Have you heard of a Court case in which a shagird (formal disciple)sues the ustad for refund of fees paid by him or her at the time of the black-thread ceremony? This is what happened in the case of Khansaheb Rajaballi Khan. The interesting feature of this case was that the Counsel for the defendant was none other than the late Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande...Khansaheb, not being well-versed in legal matters, sought Pandit Bhatkhande's advice. Panditji agreed to fight the case on Khansaheb's behalf. When the matter came up in Court, Panditji argued that the payment made at the ganda-bandhan (black-thread) ceremony being guru-dakshina, i.e. in the nature of a gift to the guru, the disciple can in no circumstances ask for its repayment. The Court, accepting this reasoning, decided in Khansaheb's favour...

...Khansaheb's concert tours used to cover several cities and he would earn a sizeable sum of rupees seven to eight thousand, before returning to Dewas. Because of his prodigal ways it was not long before this fortune was spent on his own extravagances and hospitality to intimate friends. Then the borrowings from money-lenders, grocers, other shopkeepers and confectioners would start. The shopkeepers, knowing their customer only too well, would decline to supply goods on credit when the borrowings had crossed reasonable limits...On one occasion, the money-lenders, grocers, clothiers all stopped credit but the confectioner continued to provide stuff on credit. One day a relation of Khansaheb, who lived in a distant village, came on horseback to visit Khansaheb. Khansaheb extended a cordial welcome to him and ostentatiously told him to go to a confectioner and get five or ten seers of jalebi. The guest protested that his horse ate grass and not jalebi. Khansaheb replied, "You happen to be the guest of a great artiste. Your horse, while he is under my roof, must eat jalebi." The horse was indeed fed on jalebis. Khansaheb did not have any cash even to buy fodder for the horse but since the confectioner had still not cut off credit, jalebi was still obtainable...

...Having come to know that a visit to Vazir Khan was a must before seeking audience with the ruler [of Rampur], Rajaballi Khan went to the former's mansion...The two went inside. Rajaballi Khan's companion bowed low and then squatted on the ground like a lowly dependant. Vazir Khan was seated in a silver-encrusted chair. Rajaballi Khan made a bee-line for his seat and sat on an adjoining chair. He even went so far as to take a few puffs on Vazir Khan's hookah. Vazir Khan, although really very angry at this impertinence, was outwardly calm. He politely enquired after Rajaballi Khan who replied that he was a singer, been player and a disciple of Khansaheb Bande Ali. Vazir Khan said, "Yes I know," and made some uncharitable remark about the kind of instrument Bande Ali was using. Rajaballi Khan replied "But it had a far sweeter sound than your Rampuri drum-like been." Since Rajaballi's first interview was so explosive the prospect of his being able to secure an audience with the Nawab was not very bright. But Rajaballi, ill-mannered as he was, had brought a letter from the Kolhapur ruler. Since not to grant him an interview would be discourtesy to the Maharaja, the Nawab decided to see him.

The Nawab sent for him the same night...Rajaballi used to say that the Nawab was a very skilled singer and his layakari (sense of rhythm) was very good. He knew innumerable dhrupads and dhamars by heart. However, he did not pay as much attention to swara (tonal purity) as he should have. After his rendering of a song, the Nawab turned to the assembled musicians and said, "Tell me, have you heard any singer who can equal me in layakari and tonal purity?" All the musicians instantly chorused, "No Your Highness! We have neither seen nor heard anyone of your calibre!" Nawabsaheb turned to Rajaballi and asked, "Rajaballi, what is your opinion?" Rajaballi replied, "My opinion is identical with what the others have said." But this somehow did not carry conviction with the Nawab. He repeatedly pressed Rajaballi for his true opinion and finally asked him to swear by Allah and the Koran and give his true opinion. Thereupon Rajaballi said "Your Highness! I have visited many princely houses and palaces without coming across any Raja who knows as much music as you do or who can sing like you." Nawabsaheb countered this by saying, "I am not asking you to say where I stand with respect to the other princes. How do I rank among professional musicians? I want you to tell me that." To this Rajaballi replied, "Even the children of musicians are better than you." Nawabsaheb's face grew crimson with rage when he heard this. "I would have had you shot this instant," the Nawab barked, "but unfortunately you have come here with a letter from the Maharaja (of Kolhapur). I am helpless. But get out of my state immediately." Rajaballi was paid Rs. 500/- and expelled from Rampur without delay...

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