Asa (raga)

Asa
Thaat Bilaval
Type Audava-Sampurna
Time of day Evening
Arohana S R M P D Ṡ
Avarohana Ṡ N D P M G R S
Vadi Ma
Samavadi Sa

Raga Asa is peculiar raga of Gurmat Sangeet Tradition. It is not being used in Indian music. There is a raga 'Majh Khamaj' in Hindustani Sangeet, but it does not resemble Asa of Gurmat Sangeet. Gurmat Sangeet is a musicology of Sikh Sacred Music, used in the Sikh holy scripture the Guru Granth Sahib. The ragas used by Sikh Gurus for Gurbani are known as Gurmat Sangeet. It is popular in the Sikh tradition from northern India and is part of daily prayers being conducted in Sikh Gurdwaras. Every raga has a strict set of rules which govern the number of notes that can be used; which notes can be used; and their interplay that has to be adhered to for the composition of a tune.

In the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy Granth (book) there are 31 Mukh Ragas and 31 Rag-prakaras. Numerous Shabad Reet compositions on the base of these ragas are popular in the tradition. The Gurbani hymns under raga Asa appear in Sri Guru Granth Sahib from Panna (page) 347 to 489.

Asa translates to hope.[1][2] It gives the mood of making effort and|provides the feelings of inspiration, courage, determination, ambition, passion, and zeal to the reciter and listeners.[3]

Asa is five centuries old raga. It is introduced in classical singing styles of Gurmat Sangeet by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. The raga is originated from popular folk tunes of Punjab (northern India). Raga Asa belongs to Bilawal Thaat. There are three Rag-prakars of Asa used in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, i.e. Asa Kafi, Asawari and Asawari Sudhang. It is performed in Gurdwaras in morning as well as evening congregations. In morning prayers it is used to recite Asa Di Waar and in the evening it is used for recitation of So-dar recitation. It is known as a twilight melody with a calm mystical mood.

Asa was used by Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur. In Ragmala scripotged on 1429-30 pages of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Asa is described as a ragini (subset) of raga Megha.

The following represents the order of notes that can be used on the ascending and descending phase of the composition and the primary and secondary notes.

  • Aroh: S R M P D Ṡ
  • Avroh: Ṡ N D P M G R S
  • Vadi: Ma
  • Samvadi: Sa
  • Thaat : Bilaval
  • Jaati : Audava - Sampurna
  • Resting notes : Avroha ga , ni
  • Time : Evening

Asa is a crooked (vakra) raga in that approaches to certain notes have to be made from a set position. Its variants as given in the Guru Granth Sahib are Kafi and Asavari, both of which have many features in common with Asa.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gurbani Raag: Asa". Search Gurbani. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Punjabi-English Dictionary. Patiala: Punjabi University. 1994. p. 51. ISBN 978-81-7380-096-2.
  3. ↑ "Raag". Essence of Sikhi. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
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