Prescribed Ragas: Structure, Aroha–Avaroha, Pakad and Chalan
This is the highest-scoring domain: expect direct questions on aroha–avaroha, pakad, vadi–samvadi, jati, thaat and samay, and phrase-based questions that ask you to name the raga.
How to describe any raga
- Aroha and avaroha in board notation, with komal/tivra signs intact.
- Pakad: the short catch-phrase that fixes identity - never the full scale.
- Vadi, samvadi, then jati, thaat, samay.
- Chalan: characteristic movement, including vakra (zig-zag) phrases and nyas notes.
Core ragas (lowercase = komal, M* = tivra Ma, S' = upper Sa)
| Raga | Thaat | Aroha | Avaroha | Pakad | Vadi–Samvadi | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaman | Kalyan | S R G M* P D N S' | S' N D P M* G R S | N R G M* P, M* G R S | G–N | night, 1st prahar |
| Bhairav | Bhairav | S r G M P d N S' | S' N d P M G r S | G M P d P, M G r S | d–r | morning, 1st prahar |
| Bihag | Bilawal | S G M P N S' | S' N D P M G R S | G M P N S' N D P, M G M G R S | G–N | night, 2nd prahar |
| Kafi | Kafi | S R g M P D n S' | S' n D P M g R S | S R g M P, M g R g R S | P–R | night |
| Malkauns | Bhairavi | S g M d n S' | S' n d M g S | M g M d n d M g S | M–S | night, 3rd prahar |
| Des | Khamaj | S R M P N S' | S' n D P M G R S | R M P N S' n D P, M G R S | R–P | night, 2nd prahar |
Worked example
A written phrase reads G M P N S' N D P, then M G M G R S. Ma is shuddha in both directions and Ni is shuddha, so Yaman's tivra Ma is absent; Re and Dha are in the scale but skipped rising. The raga is Bihag: thaat Bilawal, vadi Ga, samvadi Ni, night, second prahar.
Traps
Offering a full aroha as a pakad; confusing Des with Khamaj (same thaat - Des omits Ga and Dha in aroha, uses shuddha Ma and shuddha Ni rising, komal ni falling); singing Bhairav without andolan on komal Re and Dha; giving Malkauns a shuddha Ma; assigning the wrong prahar.