Raga Kedar
Majestic, devotional, ancient, peaceful
Raga Details
- Thaat
- Kalyan
- Vikrut Swar
- Both Madhyam: Shuddha Madhyam (M) and Tivra Madhyam (M^)
- Varjit Swar
- Rishabh (R) in ascent and Gandhar (G) as a weak/passive swar
- Jati
- Audav - Shadav
- Vadi
- Madhyam (M)
- Samvadi
- Shadaj (S)
- Time
- 1st prahar of night
Aaroha • Avaroha • Pakad
Aaroha / Aaroh
S R S, M M^G P, M^ P D P S'
Avaroha / Avroh
S' N D P, M P D P M R S
Pakad
S R S M M^G P, M^ P D P M R S
Notation guide: S R G M P D N are shuddha swars. Lowercase r, g, d, n indicate komal swars. M^ indicates tivra Madhyam. S' indicates upper Sa.
Explanation
How to understand Raga Kedar
Raga Kedar has a majestic and devotional quality. Its identity comes from the special use of both Madhyams and the characteristic phrases around M, M^G P, and M P D P M R S. The raga should not sound like a straight scale; its beauty is in its curved movements and important resting points.
Features of the Raga
- Raga Kedar is an ancient and popular raga.
- Gandhar (G) is very weak in Kedar and is used passively as a sparsh swar while going from M to P.
- Sometimes Komal Nishad (n) is used as a vivadi swar to enhance the beauty of the raga.
- Some scholars believe that Kedar uses G in vakra form in avaroha.