Shree: The Feminine Divine

You [Goddess] are the power behind Agni (God of Fire), the power behind Vayu (God of Wind), the power behind Surya (God of Sun), the power behind the Vasus (Celestial Beings). You are the power behind Indra, Bruhaspati, and Varuna;  You are the all-pervading power behind everything.

~Shree Suktam

Between the festivals of Navratri and Diwali, Indian culture holds the Goddess of high importance. Navratri is a 9 day festival that celebrates Shakti, or the feminine power. This power is represented by Maa Durga, the Goddess who defeated the demon Mahishasura, in each of her 9 forms. Shortly after Navratri, celebrations for Diwali begin. Also a multi-day celebration, Diwali starts with the veneration of the Goddess Laxmi and Maa Kali. The power of the feminine divine is also knows as Shree.

Shree

Goddess Laxmi is revered as the Goddess of Wealth and is the consort of Lord Vishnu, the operator of the universe. Her other name is Shree, meaning wealth, resplendence, and enlightenment.

In Vedic tradition, we revere Om as the most important and powerful sound in the universe. It is the sound that represents and connects us with our inner divine. The second most powerful sound in the universe is Shree, representing the material world. When taken together, these sounds express the wholeness of human potential in both the spiritual and material worlds.

Over time, the word Shree has become synonymous with “honorable.”

Above is a Ragamala painting depicting Raga Shree. Though the raga comes from the mouth of the Goddess, it is still a Purush Raga. Therefore, the raga is shown as a male, with his consort, listening to Raga Shree perfumed by the female musicians in front of him. 

In Indian classical music tradition, it is said that the Adi ragas (note-based melodic structures), or the first ragas to ever exist, were spoken into existence by God Himself. Six ragas, also known as the Purusha Ragas, are considered to be the first & oldest ragas:

• Bhairav,

• Hindol

• Megh

• Malkauns

• Deepak

• Shree*

The first five came from the mouth of Lord Shiva. The last one, Raga Shree, is said to have originated from the mouth of the Goddess, or the Shree-Mukha.

The raga conveys a complex set of emotions, marrying together the emotions of serenity, peace and deep devotion with a sense of restlessness–almost bhayanak, or haunting. The movement of the raga is far from simple, making it one of the most difficult ragas to master or perform. Yet when heard, Raga Shree is the epitome of intense and deep meditation. 

Aaroha: S r M P N S’

Avroha: r’ N d P, M P d, d M G r S

Raga Shree belongs to the Purvi thaat & is sung at dusk, making it a Sandhiprakash raga (ragas sung before sunrise, or after sunset). These times are said to be the best times to worship Lord Shiva. In Indian traditions, there is a relationship between Shiva and Shakti, or the Shree. Hence, this raga is used as a medium for devotion to Lord Shiva.