Raga Ahir Bhairav
Ahir Bhairav is a Hindustani classical raga. It is a mixture of Bhairav and the ancient, rare raga Ahiri or Abhiri,or perhaps a mixture of Bhairav and Kafi. It is a pleasing blend of raga Bhairav in Poorvang and raga Kafi in Uttarang. The chalan of this raga is like raga Bhairav in Poorvang where Rishabh oscillates (G m P G M r r S), however in Uttarang the oscillation of Dhaivat is skipped.
This raga can be expanded in all the three octaves. This raga creates an atmosphere full of Bhakti Ras.
This is an old raga. It is characterized by the use of Komal Re and Komal Ni. This mode does not belong to any of the 10 thats put forward by Bhatkhande; however for some inexplicable reason, he ascribed this raga to Bhairav That. Often times, this raga is referred to by its south Indian name of Chakravaka. This is an early morning raga. For those who are still inclined towords the Vadi / Savadi theory it has been suggested that Ma is its vadi and Sa as its samvadi.
Ahir Bhairav is very well known through old film songs such as 'Pucho Na Kaise' and 'Meri Bina Tum Bin Roye Sajana'. There are actually so many film songs in Ahir Bhairav that it is not really possible to go over them here.
There are two approaches to this raga (Rao 1980). The first type omits Ni in the arohana, it is therefore shadav - sampurna. The second approach does not omit any note; therefore it is sampurna - sampurna. However, since no other raga shares the same modality, one need not worry too much about impinging upon a different raga.
Music Therapy :
Talking of the 'Ahir Bhairav raga', Dr Madvi Mohindra a PHd in music therapy tells us, it is well known for it's calming and relaxing effects. Music can be enjoyed on various levels- one can just 'hear' music for enjoyment and entertainment or one can 'listen' to music with rapt attention. Listening in this manner helps your concentration power and also develops patience in the listener. One can listen to music and also hum along with it though you may not be a trained singer. The humming will have a greater positive effect on your mind. Certainly if you play an instrument and sing the proper melodies the therapeutic benefits will increase.
Ahir Bhairav is a morning raga and as the word 'Ahirs' are cowherds and milkmen and this raga has developed from the tinkling of the cow's bells early in the morning as they are being milked. What a calming effect that has on an individual early in the morning needs no imagination. Little wonder then that Bhajans are often based on the raga Ahir Bhairav.
Some well known Hindi film songs based on this rag Ahir Bhairav are, 'Poocho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitaaee' sung by Manna Dey and 'Albela Sajan aayo Re' sung by Ustad Rashid Khan.
Carnatic music :
Chakravakam, the 16th Melakarta raga of Carnatic music, which is a sampurna scale (all seven notes in ascending and descending scale), closely resembles Ahir Bhairav. However, in the modern times Ahir Bhairav raga has been used in a few Carnatic music compositions and many South Indian film songs as well.
Credits
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