Raga Bhoopali
Raga Bhoop, also known as Bhoopali, is one of the fundamental ragas introduced to students learning Hindustani classical music. This raga employs five of the seven shuddha swaras of the saptak, specifically omitting Madhyam (Ma) and Nishad (Ni). Characterized by its audhav jati, Bhoopali features a melodic structure where both the aaroha (ascending) and avroha (descending) comprise five notes.
Belonging to the Kalyan thaat, Raga Bhoopali highlights its vadi (dominant note) Gandhar (Ga) and samvadi (sub-dominant note) Dhaivat (Dha). Traditionally, it is performed in the early part of the night, making it an essential raga for establishing the mood during this time. Understanding Raga Bhoopali is crucial for students, as it lays the foundation for more advanced compositions in Hindustani music.
Aaroha: Sa Re Ga Pa Dha Sa’
Avroha: Sa’ Dha Pa Ga Re Dha. Sa
Pakkad: Ga Re Pa Ga Re, Dha. Sa Re Ga Re, Dha. Dha. Sa
Bhoopali is regarded as a purvang pradhan raga, which signifies that its elaboration predominantly occurs in the lower sections of the saptak, specifically in the Mandra and Madhya saptak, rather than in the higher registers. Within the diverse sub-genres of Hindustani music, Bhoopali is utilized in dhrupads, bada khyal, chota khyal, and taranas, and is typically performed at a slower tempo. When performing the Gandhar note, it is essential to utilize the kan, or support, of Pancham, while for Dhaivat, one should incorporate the kan of Taar Shadaj. This attention to tonal nuances enriches the performance and highlights the distinctive qualities of Bhoopali.
Raga Bhoop creates a tranquil atmosphere with its use of the Gandhar. When singing Bhoopali, if one lingers too long on Dhaivat, it becomes Raga Deshkar. Deshkar uses the same notes as Bhoopali, but it is elaborated in the higher part of the saptak, or the Taar Saptak. Thus it is an uttarang pradhan raga.
Bhoopali’s Carnatic counterpart is known as Raga Mohanam. This 5 note combination is one of the most popular combinations in the world, also used in East and Southeast Asian music.
Enjoy Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande’s rendition of a bandish in Raga Bhoopali, composed by Sadarang and Adarang (Niyamat Khan and Feroze Khan respectively). Ashwiniji is a renowned singer from the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She has also gained training from gurus in the Gwalior, Mewati, and Patiala gharanas.
References:
Sangeetanjali by Pt. Omkarnath Thakur
Raga Parichay by Harishchandra Shrivastava
Abhinava Geetanjali by Pt. Ramashraya Jha
Tanarang.com
