Brindavani Sarang

Brindaavani Sarang or Brindaabani Sarang, also known as raga Sarang, is a Hindustani classical raga. It is also called Vridaavani Sarang. This raga falls under the category of Sarang ragas.

Brindabani Sarang is a Kafi thaat raga. It was created by Swami Haridas. The associated mythology being that he brought Lord Krishna to earth by singing this raga who took the form of an idol which can still be seen in Mathura. One of the famous Ragas for the Sarang raagang, it is a popular raag of this family, together with Shuddha Sarang, and Madhyamad Sarang. The name Brindavani Sarang is a testament to its popularity in the region around Mathura.

The notes Ga and Dha are not used in this raga. A characteristic of all Sarang is the way Rishab (Re) is sung. The Rishabh is not accorded embellishments, so it is sung without any meenḍ of adjacent swaras neither with any andolan. This preeminence of Re makes the swar the vadi of this Raga as also for all other varieties of this family (raagang).

Another dominant phrase is Sa - Ni - Pa, also used in many other ragas, notably the popular Kanhada family. The distinguishing factor being that the Ni in Kanhada's S-N-P takes a kaṇ of the Pa (of uttarang), with a ghaseeṭa effect, whereas the Ni of Sa-Ni-Pa in Sarang is rendered pure.

Brindavani Sarang's classification in thaat Kaafi is peculiar as it uses the shuddha form of "Ni" in its Aaroha, whereas the komala form of "ni" and "ga" is the main characteristic of the Kaafi thaat. So it is possible to make a mistake in identifying its thaat as Khamaj.^[1]

This raga evokes the sringara rasa - romantic love.^[2]

Arohana: N S R M P N S'^[3]

Avarohana: S' n P M R S N S^[3]

Ni svara is Shuddha in Arohana and Komal in Avarohana.

Vadi: Rishabha (re)^[3]

Samavadi: Panchama (pa)^[3]

Ni Sa Re Ma Re Pa Ma Re Ni Sa

R M P n - PMR, M- R N S R-S

Thaat: Kafi Thaat^[3]

Madhyanah (noon), Afternoon.^[3]

It is generally sung as Rajasthani folksongs.

It is generally regarded as a raga of summer season.

Shringar Rasa: The Rasa of Romance. It creates a romantic and mystic atmosphere.

Madhumad Sarang has the Shuddha Ni dropped or Varjit (excluded).^[4] It is still considered a chanchal raga. Megh malhar has same notes but it is Dhrupad anga raga and is serious in rendering, with a lot of meenḍ. Another distinguishing factor is that while Rishabh is used extensively in Megh Malhar (as also in Sarang), the Rishabh there takes a very strong meenḍ from Madhyam (Me), a salient in the singing of meenḍ-heavy Megh.

Kamalaptakula by Tyagaraja

Soundara raajam aashraye and Rangapura Vihara by Muthuswami Deekshithar

Aathma Nivedanam by Thulaseevanam

Eke mamathe kottu by Gopala Dasa in Kannada

Arige Vadhuvade By Purandara Dasa

Ranga banda brindavanadalli by Vyasatirtha in Kannada

Ananda Mayage By Vadiraja Tirtha

Iko Node Ranganathana By Sripadaraja

Amburuhânanâ by Kalyani Varadarajan

Kaliyuga Varadhan by Periyasami Thooran

Thillana in Brindavani Sarang by M. Balamuralikrishna

Kannada:

• "Swami Devane Loka Palane (School Master)"
• "Kamalada Mogadole Kamalada Kannole (Hosa Itihaasa)"
• "Maduve Gandidu Nodamma (Addadaari)"
• "Pandharapuravemba Dodda Nagara (Dasara Pada)"
• "Pata Pata Gaali Pata (Aapta Mitra)"
• "Eesha Ninna Carana Bhajane Aase Inda (Bhajane)"
• "Kaashi Inda Bandanilli Vishvanaatha (Bhakti Geete)"
• "Yaava Shilpi Kanda Kanaso Neenu (Janma Janmada Anubandha)"
• "Barede Neenu Ninna Hesara (Seetha)"
• "Elli Ninna Bhaktaro Alle Mantralaya (Bhakti Geete)"
• "Kempadavo Ella Kempadavo (Ellindalo Bandavaru)"
• "Jagadisha Mallesha Sarvesha Goureesha (Baduku Bangaravayitu)"
• "Cheluvayya Cheluvo Taani Tandaana (Jaanapada)"
• "Kodagana Koli Nungitta (Tatva Pada)"
• "Kalita Hudugi Kudure Nadigi (Jaanapada)"
• "Nammoora Mandara Hoove (Aalemane)"
• "Adavi Deviya Kaadu Janagala (Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege)"
• "Hrudayave Ninna Hesarige (Belli Modagalu)"
• "Suvvi Suvvi Suvaalamma (Svatimuttu)"
• "Attitta Nodadiru (Bhavageete)"
• "Shivanu Bhikshakke Banda (Folk)"
• "Mutta Mutta Chinaari Mutta (Chinnaari Mutta)"
• "Bhaagyada Balegaara (Folk)"
• "Munisu Tarave Mugude (Bhaavageete)"
• "Harivaraasanam (Bhakti Geete)"
• "Esthu Saahasavanta Neene Balavanta (Bhakti Geete)"
• "Daasanaanu Visheshanaagu (Dasa Pada)"
• "Indu Shukravaara Shubhava Taruva Vaara (Bhakti Geete)"
• "Vaara Bantamma (Bhakti Geete)"
• "Bhaagyada Lakshmi Baaramma (Dasa Pada)"
• "Sadaa Kannale Olavina (Kaviratna Kaalidaasa)"
• "Beladingalaagi Baa (Mishra, Huliyahalina Mevu)"

• Bor, Joep (ed). Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane (co-authors) The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Zenith Media, London: 1999.

• SRA on Samay and Ragas
• SRA on Ragas and Thaats
• Rajan Parrikar on Ragas
• Film Songs in Rag Brindavani Sarang
• More details about raga Brindavani Sarang