Malkauns, known also as rag Malkosh, is a

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as ...

Indian classical music Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...

. It is one of the oldest ragas of Indian classical music. The equivalent raga in

Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka. It ...

is called

Hindolam Hindōḷaṃ is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāgam, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the se ...

, not to be confused with the Hindustani

Hindol Hindol is a Hindustani classical ''raga'' from the Kalyan Thaat. According to Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, Hindol is an ancient raga associated with the spring season and is sung during the first part of the day. Origin The rag ...

. According to Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, Malkauns is a raga that is "sung during small hours of the morning, just after midnight." He further adds that the raga has a soothing and intoxicating effect.

Etymology

The name ''Malkaush'' is derived from the combination of ''Mal'' and ''Kaushik'', which means he who wears serpents like garlands – the god Shiva. However, the ''Malav-Kaushik'' mentioned in classical texts does not appear to be the same as the ''Malkauns'' performed today. The raga is believed to have been created by goddess

Parvati Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...

to calm lord

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one o ...

, when he was outraged and refused to calm down after Tandav in rage of Sati's sacrifice. In ''

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...

'', it is also stated that the Raga Malkauns is used by the ''Tirthankaras'' with the ''Ardhamāgadhi'' Language when they are giving '' Deshna'' (Lectures) in the '' Samavasarana''. Malkaush belongs to Shaivait musical school; in fact most pentatonic ragas belong to Shaivait musical school.

Arohana and Avarohana

Malkauns belongs to the

Bhairavi Bhairavi ( sa, भैरवी) is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava. Etymology The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terror" or "awe-inspiring". She is th ...

thaat. Its

notes Note, notes, or NOTE may refer to: Music and entertainment * Musical note, a pitched sound (or a symbol for a sound) in music * ''Notes'' (album), a 1987 album by Paul Bley and Paul Motian * ''Notes'', a common (yet unofficial) shortened versio ...

are Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. In Western classical notation, its notes can be denoted as: tonic, minor third, perfect fourth, minor sixth and minor seventh. In raga Malkauns, Rishabh (Re – second) and Pancham (Pa – perfect fifth) are completely omitted. Its jaati is audav-audav (five-five, that is, pentatonic).

Arohana Arohana, Arohanam or Aroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the ascending scale of notes in a raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The pitch increases as we g ...

: ''.ni.'' Sa ''ga'' Ma ''dha'' ''ni'' *Sa*

Avarohana An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The notes descend in pitch ...

: *Sa* ''ni'' ''dha'' Ma ''ga'' Ma ''ga'' Sa OR *Sa* ''ni dha'' Ma ''ga'' Sa The 'Ga' used is actually Ga-Sadharan (the rough minor third), 316-cent above Sa

Vadi and Samavadi

The vadi swara is Madhyam (Ma) while the Samavadi swara is Shadaj (Sa).

Pakad or Chalan

Pakad : ga ma dha ma ga ma ga sa

Other characteristics

Malkauns is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave (mandra saptak) and in a slow tempo (vilambit laya). Ornaments such as meend, gamak and andolan are used rather than 'lighter' ornaments such as murki and khatka. Komal Ni is generally considered the starting note (graha swara), and the notes komal Ga and komal Dha are performed with vibrato (andolit). All five swaras can function as pausing notes. The komal Ni in Malkauns is different from the komal Ni in Bhimpalasi. The best time for this raga is late night. The effect of the raga is soothing and intoxicating.

List of ragas in the Kauns family

The unique musical structure of Malkauns has given rise to many variations, creating what may be called a 'Kauns' family of related ragas. *

Chandrakauns Chandrakauns is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It is also used in tail pieces and lighter presentations of Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with So ...

* Bageshri-Ang Chandrakauns * Nandkauns * Sampoorna Malkauns * Pancham Malkauns * Gunkauns * Madhukauns * Jogkauns * Nirmalkauns * Tulsikauns

Film songs

'Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj' (film Baiju Bawra, performed by

Mohammad Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and ...

), 'Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi' (film Navrang, performed by

Mahendra Kapoor Mahendra Kapoor (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) was an Indian playback singer. In a long career spanning decades, his repertoire included popular songs such as ''Chalo ekbaar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono'' ( Gumrah) and ''Neele Gag ...

and

Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle (; Mangeshkar; born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur and occasional actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian Cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in th ...

), 'Chham Chham Ghunghroo Bole' (film Kaajal, performed by

), 'Ankhiyan Sang Ankhiyaan Laagi Aaj' (film Bada Aadmi), 'Balma Maane Na' (film Opera House) and 'Rang raliyaan karat sautan sang' (film Birbal My Brother), 'Ek Ladki Thi' (film

Love You Hamesha ''Love You Hamesha'' () is an Indian Hindi-language romance film written and directed by Kailash Surendranath. It stars Akshaye Khanna and Sonali Bendre as its main cast, and other supporting actors. The film is a remake of the Tamil film '' May ...

, performed by

Kavita Krishnamurthy Sharada Krishnamurthy, popularly known as Kavita Krishnamurthy or Kavita Subramaniam, is an Indian playback and classical singer. She has recorded 50,000 songs in 45 various Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Rajasthani, Bhoj ...

) are a few Hindi film compositions based on Malkauns. 'Rajasekhara' in the film 'Anarkali' in Tamil and Telugu is a composition based on this in South India. "Ohm Namashivaya" and "Margazhi Poove" songs in Tamil by Illayaraja and AR Rahman from Salangai Oli and May Madham respectively,""Neenu Neene" song from the movie Gadibidi Ganda, "Ra Ra" song in the movie Apthamitra in Kannada are also the best examples.

Tamil Film Songs

Note that the following songs are composed in

, the equivalent of raga Malkauns in

Compositions of Hindustani Classical Music

Important recordings

* Amir Khan, Ragas Hansadhwani and Malkauns, HMV LP (long-playing record), EMI-EASD1357 * Mekaal Hasan Band's Maalkauns from the album Andholan is also based on this. * Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan presented it in a popular bandish "Aaj more Ghar aaye na Balma"