Skip to main content

Raags by thaat

Browse the library under the ten canonical Hindustani thaats. Variant source labels are normalized here for study.

Browse the complete catalogue raag index

Terms used in the filters: thaat (parent scale family), prahar (performance time), jati (number of notes), komal and tivra swaras (altered notes), aroha and avaroha.

Study filters

Search names, grammar, learner notes, swaras, thaat, mood, and comparison cues.

31 of 31 raags
Vikrit swaras

Sort changes the order of matching raags. Teaching order follows the library sequence; performance time runs from morning to night.

No filters applied.

Bilawal thaat

4 raags

Alhaiya Bilawalअल्हैया बिलावल

Bilawal thaat · late morning (second prahar of the day, about 9 am–noon)

Review-ready

Alhaiya Bilawal is a major raag of the Bilawal family with indirect movement. Ma is left out of the direct ascent but appears in turns, and komal Ni appears in the descent between two Dha notes.

Jati
Shadav-Sampurna
Vadi
Dha
Samvadi
Ga
Open raag

Deshkarदेशकार

Bilawal thaat · early morning (first prahar of the day, about 6–9 am)

Review-ready

Deshkar develops mainly in the upper middle and high registers, with a direct ascent and descent. Dha and Pa are important. Re is weak and never held, and Dha may be approached with a touch of komal Ni.

Jati
Audav-Audav
Vadi
Dha
Samvadi
Ga
Open raag

Durgaदुर्गा

Bilawal thaat · night (second prahar of the night, about 9 pm–12 am)

Review-ready

Durga is a five-note raag that develops mainly in the middle octave. It can go up and down directly. Sa and Ma are important, and Pa is a resting note.

Jati
Audav-Audav
Vadi
Dha
Samvadi
Re
Open raag

Pahadiपहाड़ी

Bilawal thaat · early night (first prahar of the night, about 6–9 pm)

Review-ready

Pahadi has a five-note core of Sa, Re, Ga, Pa and Dha, with wide freedom to add other notes, especially in descending lines. Its playful ornaments and lower- and middle-register movement matter more than the core scale.

Jati
Audav core; variable mishra treatment
Vadi
Sa
Samvadi
Pa
Open raag

Kalyan thaat

6 raags

Bhupaliभूपाली

Kalyan thaat · early night (first prahar of the night, about 6–9 pm)

Review-ready

Bhupali uses five notes: Sa, Re, Ga, Pa and Dha. It develops mostly in the lower and middle registers. Its ascent and descent are direct, but approaches from above and descending glides give it its character.

Jati
Audav-Audav
Vadi
Ga
Samvadi
Dha
Open raag

Bihagबिहाग

Kalyan thaat · early night (first prahar of the night, about 6–9 pm)

Review-ready

In Bihag, Ga and Ni are strong, while Re and Dha are weak and left out going up. Both forms of Ma occur, but tivra Ma is weak and appears only in oblique descending turns with shuddha Ma.

Jati
Audav-Sampurna
Vadi
Ga
Samvadi
Ni
Open raag

Hamirहमीर

Kalyan thaat · early night (first prahar of the night, about 6–9 pm)

Review-ready

Hamir stresses Dha and works mostly in the upper tetrachord. The direct ascent uses shuddha Ma, and the descent bends through both forms of Ma and often returns through Ga Ma Re Sa.

Jati
Sampurna (vakra; directional counts unspecified)
Vadi
Dha
Samvadi
Ga
Open raag

Kamodकामोद

Kalyan thaat · early night (first prahar of the night, about 6–9 pm)

Review-ready

In Kamod, Ga and Ni are weak and Re and Pa are important. It favours the upper middle octave and glides, and uses tivra Ma only as a grace note near Pa and Dha.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna (vakra)
Vadi
Pa
Samvadi
Re
Open raag

Kedarकेदार

Kalyan thaat · early night (first prahar of the night, about 6–9 pm)

Review-ready

Kedar is a major, serious raag. Its strongest note is shuddha Ma, often oscillated. Its movement is indirect: a light touch of Ga links phrases that move from Ma, and traditions differ on komal Ni.

Jati
Audav-Shadav (vakra)
Vadi
Ma
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Yamanयमन

Kalyan thaat · early night (first prahar of the night, about 6–9 pm)

Review-ready

Yaman belongs to the Kalyan family and suits beginners and experienced performers alike. Its ascent usually starts on lower Ni, Ga and Ni are held, and Pa is a resting point.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
Ga
Samvadi
Ni
Open raag

Khamaj thaat

4 raags

Deshदेस

Khamaj thaat · night (second prahar of the night, about 9 pm–12 am)

Review-ready

Desh is sung in several classical, devotional and lighter forms and is associated with the monsoon. It rises on five notes and comes down on seven, using both forms of Ni.

Jati
Audav-Sampurna
Vadi
Re
Samvadi
Pa
Open raag

Jaijaivantiजयजयवंती

Khamaj thaat · night (second prahar of the night, about 9 pm–12 am)

Review-ready

Jaijaivanti has two interpretations, one close to Desh and Sorath and one close to Bageshri, which approach high Sa differently. Both use two forms of Ga and two forms of Ni. Re and Pa are important, and the rising glide from Pa to Re stands out.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
Re
Samvadi
Pa
Open raag

Khamajखमाज

Khamaj thaat · night (second prahar of the night, about 9 pm–12 am)

Review-ready

Khamaj is especially common in thumri, dadra and hori-dhamar. The ascent normally leaves out Re and uses shuddha Ni, and the descent uses komal Ni. Ga and Ni are important and Pa is a resting note.

Jati
Shadav-Sampurna
Vadi
Ga
Samvadi
Ni
Open raag

Tilangतिलंग

Khamaj thaat · night (second prahar of the night, about 9 pm–12 am)

Review-ready

Tilang usually leaves out Re and Dha and is closely tied to lighter classical music. It uses shuddha Ni going up and komal Ni coming down, and a little upper Re is allowed.

Jati
Audav-Audav
Vadi
Ga
Samvadi
Ni
Open raag

Bhairav thaat

2 raags

Ahir Bhairavअहीर भैरव

Bhairav thaat · early morning (first prahar of the day, about 6–9 am)

Review-ready

Ahir Bhairav may leave out Pa going up. It can come down directly or through turns around Ma and komal Re. AUTRIM calls Pa and Sa important, with Ga also held.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
Ma
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Bhairavभैरव

Bhairav thaat · early morning (first prahar of the day, about 6–9 am)

Review-ready

Bhairav is restrained and devotional. Komal Re and komal Dha are sung with slow oscillation. The ascent can be direct, though some performers leave out Re and Pa going up.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
dha
Samvadi
re
Open raag

Poorvi thaat

1 raag

Purviपूर्वी

Purvi thaat · late afternoon to sunset (fourth prahar of the day, about 3–6 pm)

Review-ready

Purvi often starts rising phrases on lower Ni and avoids Pa except at the end of a rising phrase. The descent uses both forms of Ma and a light touch of komal Re before Ga. Ga and Ni are important.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
Ga
Samvadi
Ni
Open raag

Marwa thaat

1 raag

Marwaमारवा

Marwa thaat · late afternoon to sunset (fourth prahar of the day, about 3–6 pm)

Review-ready

Marwa stresses komal Re and Dha. It can move directly but often avoids Sa. It shares its notes with Puriya and Sohini, so note emphasis and register decide its identity.

Jati
Shadav-Shadav
Vadi
re
Samvadi
Dha
Open raag

Kafi thaat

7 raags

Bageshriबागेश्री

Kafi thaat · midnight (third prahar of the night, about 12–3 am)

Review-ready

Bageshri leaves room for long elaboration. Sa and Ma are strong and Dha is held. Pa is left out going up and used sparingly coming down, and komal Ga and komal Ni may be oscillated.

Jati
Audav-Sampurna
Vadi
Ma
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Bhimpalasiभीमपलासी

Kafi thaat · afternoon (third prahar of the day, about noon–3 pm)

Review-ready

Bhimpalasi usually starts its ascent on lower komal Ni and leaves out Re and Dha going up. Its glides and oscillations need control, and its solemn movement can feel calm.

Jati
Audav-Sampurna
Vadi
Ma
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Brindavani Sarangबृंदावनी सारंग

Kafi thaat · afternoon (third prahar of the day, about noon–3 pm)

Review-ready

Brindavani Sarang gives weight to Re and Pa and uses paired glides: from komal Ni down to Pa, and from Ma down to Re. Today's form leaves out Dha, unlike an older form.

Jati
Audav-Audav
Vadi
Re
Samvadi
Pa
Open raag

Kafiकाफ़ी

Kafi thaat · midnight (third prahar of the night, about 12–3 am)

Review-ready

Kafi is heard in dhrupad and in thumri, dadra and tappa, and less often in khayal. Its movements are fairly direct. Komal Ga and komal Ni are main notes, and Re and Pa are resting notes.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
Pa
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Patdeepपटदीप

Kafi thaat · afternoon (third prahar of the day, about noon–3 pm)

Review-ready

Patdeep gives shuddha Ni weight and can rest on Pa. Its direct ascent leaves out Dha, and oscillated komal Ga and the glide from Ma Pa down to Ga are characteristic.

Jati
Audav-Sampurna
Vadi
Pa
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Piluपीलू

Kafi thaat · any time

Review-ready

Pilu is closely tied to folk and lighter classical music. Shuddha Ga and Ni usually go up, komal Ga and Ni come down, and lower Ni is an important resting point.

Jati
Audav-Sampurna
Vadi
ga
Samvadi
ni
Open raag

Shivaranjaniशिवरंजनी

Kafi thaat · midnight (third prahar of the night, about 12–3 am)

Review-ready

Shivaranjani uses five notes: Sa, Re, komal Ga, Pa and Dha. Komal Ga is its only altered core note. Interpretations vary, and the source gives example phrases rather than one fixed pakad.

Jati
Audav-Audav
Vadi
Pa
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Asavari thaat

1 raag

Darbari Kanadaदरबारी कान्हड़ा

Asavari thaat · midnight (third prahar of the night, about 12–3 am)

Review-ready

Darbari Kanada unfolds slowly in the lower and middle registers. It can rise directly, but its descent is oblique, and slow oscillations on komal Ga and komal Dha are characteristic.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna (vakra)
Vadi
Re
Samvadi
Pa
Open raag

Bhairavi thaat

3 raags

Asavari (komal Re form)आसावरी

Bhairavi thaat · late morning (second prahar of the day, about 9 am–noon)

Review-ready

This profile is the komal Re form of Asavari, which AUTRIM calls the more common form today. Ga and Ni are normally left out going up, and komal Re and komal Dha are stressed and slowly oscillated.

Jati
Audav-Shadav
Vadi
dha
Samvadi
ga
Open raag

Bhairaviभैरवी

Bhairavi thaat · early morning (first prahar of the day, about 6–9 am)

Review-ready

In its strict form, Bhairavi uses four komal notes: Re, Ga, Dha and Ni. AUTRIM says this strict form is now rarely performed, and common and lighter versions add other notes. Musicians often close a concert with Bhairavi.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
Ma
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Malkaunsमालकौंस

Bhairavi thaat · midnight (third prahar of the night, about 12–3 am)

Review-ready

Malkauns is serious and solemn and can move straight up and down. Slow glides, oscillation on komal Ga, and weight on Sa and Ma shape it.

Jati
Audav-Audav
Vadi
Ma
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Todi thaat

1 raag

Multaniमुलतानी

Todi thaat · afternoon (third prahar of the day, about noon–3 pm)

Review-ready

Multani usually begins on lower Ni and leaves weak Re and Dha out of the ascent. Sa and Pa are resting notes, and oscillating komal Ga with tivra Ma is characteristic.

Jati
Audav-Sampurna
Vadi
Pa
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag

Thaat not stated in our sources

1 raag

Kirwaniकीरवाणी

night (second prahar of the night, about 9 pm–12 am)

Review-ready

Kirwani comes from the Carnatic raag Keeravani and has the same notes as the Western harmonic minor scale. The source allows free use of all seven notes; komal Ga, komal Dha and Ni help define it.

Jati
Sampurna-Sampurna
Vadi
Pa
Samvadi
Sa
Open raag