Which Raga will get if the Gandhar Swar is taken as Shadaj in Rag Bhupali ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (2): Malkouns

The core of this question lies in the application of the Graha Bhed principle, which is a fundamental concept in *Murchhana* and modern Raga theory, involving the shifting of the tonic note (*Shadaj*) of a Raga to derive a new Raga. The original Raga is **Bhupali**, a pentatonic (Audav-Audav) Raga of the Kalyan Thaat, containing the notes **Sa, Re, Ga, Pa, Dha** (all Shuddh, omitting Ma and Ni). When the **Gandhar (Ga)** of Bhupali is taken as the new tonic (Shadaj), the entire intervallic structure is transposed. Bhupali's notes are at intervals S(0), R(2), G(4), P(7), D(9) semitones. By setting G(4) as the new S(0), the new scale is determined by the differences: P(7) $\rightarrow$ 3 semitones (Komal Gandhar, **g**), D(9) $\rightarrow$ 5 semitones (Shuddh Madhyam, **M**), S'(12) $\rightarrow$ 8 semitones (Komal Dhaivat, **d**), and R'(14) $\rightarrow$ 10 semitones (Komal Nishad, **n**). The resulting scale **S, g, M, d, n, S'** is the precise definition of Raga **Malkouns**, which is classified under the Bhairavi Thaat.

The incorrect option is (1): Durga
Raga **Durga** is also a pentatonic Raga, but its note structure is fundamentally different from Malkouns and the result of the *Graha Bhed*. Durga's notes are **Sa, Re, Ma, Pa, Dha** (omitting Ga and Ni, all notes Shuddh). The shift of the tonic in Bhupali did not produce this Raga, as the resulting scale contains Komal Gandhar and Komal Nishad, which are strictly absent in Durga.

The incorrect option is (3): Vrindavni Sarang
Raga **Vrindavni Sarang** is categorized as a Shadav-Shadav Raga in modern Thaat systems and uses Komal Nishad (n) but Shuddh Rishabh (R). Its notes are S, R, M, P, N, S'. The *Graha Bhed* from Bhupali (S, R, G, P, D) resulted in a scale containing Komal Gandhar (g) and Komal Dhaivat (d). These foreign notes make the resulting structure incompatible with the established grammar and note usage of Vrindavni Sarang.

The incorrect option is (4): Bairagi Bhairav
Raga **Bairagi Bhairav** is an Audav Raga known for its ascetic and detached mood. Its notes are **Sa, Komal Re, Ma, Pa, Komal Dha** (omitting Ga and Ni). The scale derived from the Bhupali shift (S, g, M, d, n) includes Komal Gandhar (g) and Komal Nishad (n). The presence of Gandhar, even Komal, is enough to disqualify Bairagi Bhairav, which is a *Nishad-Varjit* (Ni-omitted) Raga.