History of Raga Music - post Moghul period

Music made a quick comeback during the reign of Muhammad Shah (1719-1748 A.D). Muhammad Shah made the best of all good things in life so much so that he was popularly known as Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela'. Among his court musicians were two famous musicians, Sadarang and Adarang. These two great musicians composed hundreds of songs sung to this day. They evolved the Khayal style of singing, which was considered more light and 'colourful' than the Dhrupad to the listeners.

History - Bharata Muni and the division of Classical Music

Approximately in the period between 400 A.D and 500 A.D Bharata wrote his famous treatise, the Natyashastra. The Hindu philosophy and literature unanimously regards Natyashastra as the most authentic book on dance, drama and music. It truly contains the root of all Indian aesthetics. There have been several scholars who have given their commentaries and interpretations of Natyashastra.

Bharata's son Dattila is also credited with a book named Dattilam. Another writer named Matanga wrote a book known as Brihaddeshi, around the 8th century.

The period from 400 A.D to 1100 A.D. shows considerable progress in sorting and organizing of classical music. It is said that Jatis were subsequently divided into six principle basic melodies and soon afterwards two branches of classical music came into existence: Northern or Hindustani school, and the Southern or Carnatic school.

Legends – Part Two

Here are two more interesting legends that tell us of the beginnings of Indian Classical Music.

Once, when Lord Shiva saw Parvati in a reposeful pose, he was inspired to create the Rudra Veena, and from the five mouths facing five directions emanated five Ragas: Bhairav from the east, Hindol from the west, Megh from the south, Deepak from the north and Shree from the sky above. To this list of Ragas, there was added by Parvati herself, which was Kaushik.

Yet another legend says that Shiva was so enamored of Paravati that he seated her on a throne and and expressed a desire to dance before her. Many other Gods joined Nataraj. Goddess Saraswati played the Veena, Indra, the flute, Brahman played the Kartaal, and Goddess Lakshmi sang to the accompaniment of the Mridanga played by Lord Vishnu.

It is said that Lord Shiva gave the wealth of music to Bharata Muni, who spread it on earth.

Another legend says that Lord Shiva made a gift of music to Narada as a reward for his penance.

Legends of Raga Music - Part One

We have many different versions and legends, which could be some scattered clues for us to learn a little about the history of Indian Classical Music. These are mostly found in old religious treatises and epics.

One legend has it that Brahma, the Creator taught classical music to Shiva, who passed it on to Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. Hence, Saraswati is the described in the ancient books as 'Veenapustaka-dharini'. This very form of music came to be handed down in succession to the sage Narada, the celestial Gandharvas and Kinnarasand finally to Bharata Muni and Hanuman.

Another legend says that Lord Shiva made a gift of music to Narada as a reward for his penance.