The season of spring is called Basant or Vasant. In Indian Ritu-chakra (cycle of seasons) this season is as powerful and popular as Monsoons. Just as the rains have inspired the invention of several ragas, the spring season too has several ragas accredited to its beauty. Basant is one such raga. It has two versions. One of these, known as Shuddh Basant, employs Shuddh Dhaivat (D) and omits Pancham (P). the more popular version is discussed here.
Thhaat (parent scale)
Poorvi
Jaati:
Sampoorn (7-notes in both ascent and descent, heptatonic)
Vaadi:
Taar Shadja (upper tonic, S’)
Samvaadi:
Pancham (P)
Swaras:
Employs Komal Rishabh (r ), Teevra Madhyam (m) and Komal Dhaivat (d),rest Shuddh swaras
Aaroh (ascent):
S G m d r’S’ (Western Notes: C E F# A C# C)
Avaroh (descent)
S’ r’ N d P, m G, m G, m d m G, m G r S (Western Notes: C C# B A G, F# E, F# A F# E F# E C# C)
Key phrases:
m d r’S’, r’ N d P, M g M g, P m, G m G, m d N r’ S’, S’G’G’, m’G’r’S’, r’N d P, m G m G, m G r S
Time:
After Midnight
Despite having seven notes in the ascent, most musicians avoide Komal Rishabh, Pancham and Komal Dhaivat juditiously to keep this raga off Paraj, another equally popular raga with similar characteristics. Some musicians also include Shuddh Madhyam (M) to enhance its beauty. This Uttaraang-pradhaan raga likes meend-laden gliding phrases in the upper tetrachord; such as mdr’S’, d,S’NdPmGmG and S’Nd,Nd. This seasonal raga’s romantic mood often invites pathos and devotion.
1. Bhatkhande V.N. (1919-1937) ‘Kramik Pustak Malika Vol 1-6’
2. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Music of India
3. The Raga-ness of the Ragas by Deepak Raja
1. Ustad Aluddin Khan (sarod)
2. Pandit Jasraj (vocal)
3. Ustad Bismillah Khan (shehnai)
4. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (vocal)
5. Pandit Venkatesh Kumar (vocal)
Kala Ramnath presents raag Basant as St Martin-in-the-Fields in 2024, accompanied by Gurdain Rayatt on tabla.
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