Ragmala (Garland of the Raags), part 3 — the family of Maalakausak
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In the second place, Maalakausak is sung,
and it brings its five companion melodies:
Gondakaree and Dayv Gandhaaree,
the voices of Gandhaaree and Seehutee,
and the fifth song, Dhanaasaree.
With Maalakausak come along
Maaroo, Masta-ang and Mayvaaraa,
Prabal and Chandakausak,
and Khau, Khat and Bauraanad, singing.
These are the eight sons of Maalakausak.
The second family in the garland of raags belongs to Maalakausak.
Maalakausak is known today as Malkauns. It is a deep, slow raag for the night. Its five raagnee, its companion melodies, are named first. Then come its eight sons, the smaller tunes that follow.
Some of these names, like Dhanaasaree and Maaroo, are also full raags with their own sections earlier in the book. In the garland, they appear as members of one musical home.
Think of a school choir. A singer might lead a song one day and sing backup the next. The old music worked that way too, with names moving easily from one place to another.
When you hear a whole style of music, can you feel the mood it is trying to share, even before the words?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI