Gāndhāra Svara

The note Gāndhāra named after the country of Gāndhāra plays a significant role in the blooming progression of a raga. Of the two positions that the ‘Gāndhāra’ takes, the lower is known as ‘Sādhāraṇa Gāndhāra ’ in the South Indian system and ‘Komal Gāndhār ’ in the northern stream.

Raga ‘Haimavatī’, 58th mela in the well-defined ’72 Mela’ scheme of the South possesses notes R, G, M, D, N, all of which are contrasting those in Raag ‘Bhairav’of the other system.

The ‘Sādhāraṇa Gāndhāra’ assumes different shades when in association with specific modes of oscillation called ‘Gamaka’. The higher of the two Gāndhāras, i.e. ‘Śuddha Gandhara’ is what Rāg Bhairav takes. The note on its own is suggestive of vastness and expanse – a resting station.