Raga Kedar, also known as Kedara, is a Hindustani classical raga. Named after Lord Shiva, the raga occupies a high pedestal in Indian classical music. It is characterised by many melodious turns. This raga is the repetition of the swaras सा and म. It is generally accepted that it displays much thermal energy and is regarded as the Raagini of Raag Deepak. While preceding from Shuddha Madhyam (m) to Pancham (P), a touch of Gandhar (G) or a smooth passage from Gandhar (G) to Pancham (P) expressed as m G P is the more common way of instant raga manifestation.

Origin The raga emerges from the Kalyan thaat. This raga is named after Lord Shiva and is loved by Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna played this raga on his flute and everyone in Gokul was mesmerized.

Technical description The raga is of shadaav-sampurna nature, i.e., in its arohana (ascent), only six notes are used, and in avarohana (descent), all seven notes are used. In general, the progression of the raga is highly non-linear, which makes it difficult to capture its essence using arohana and avarohana.

The raga uses only natural (shuddha) versions of the Second (R), Third (G) and Sixth (D), both natural and sharp () versions of the Fourth (m and M, respectively "( m- , M- )" and predominantly natural versions of the Seventh (N) but occasionally also its flat () version (n).

Arohana: S M, M'P D M, D N S`

Avarohana: S' N D P, m P D P M~, S R S

Pakad: S M, M P, m P m P, D P M, R S

The notes of the raga are s r g m (m is ) p d n s.

The most prominent (vadi) note is M, and the second most prominent (samvadi) is S.

Samay The raga is to be sung at night. It is sung in the first prahar of night. Most ragas with ma (M) are sung at night (as per the time theory of ragas).

Further information The meend from D to M via P is the heart of the raga. This phrase is repeated again and again. The G is used as a grace note in the transition from m to P. The movements in the raga from one to another are complicated, and the extent of use of the different often depends on the singer. Kedar is one of five ragas that form the Kalyan Panchak or Panchya with Hameer, Gaud Sarang, Kamod, Chhayanat and Kedar. Kedar is an ancient raga, with different genres of classical songs, like khayals, thumris, dhrupads, as well as light classical songs based on it.

According to the Guru Granth Sahib, raga Kedara (ਕੇਦਾਰਾ) expresses and makes the mind aware of the soul's true character. It conveys the emotions of honesty, integrity and truthfulness in a practical and caring way. This approach is memorable, so that the mind is made aware, without arousing cynicism.

Variants Adambari Kedar Anandi Kedar Basanti Kedar Chandni Kedar Deepak Kedar Jaladhar Kedar Kedar Bahar Kedari Malhar Maluha Kedar Nat Kedar Shuddha Kedar Shyam Kedar Tilak Kedar

Film songs Language : Hindi SongMovieComposerSingersDharsan Do Ghan ShyamNarsi BhagatShankar Rao VyasHemant Kumar & Manna Dey & Sudha Malhotra & G.S.Nepali & RaviHum Ko Man Ki Shakti DenaGuddi (1971 film)Vasant DesaiVani Jairam & ChorusMain Pagal Mera Manwa PagalAshianaMadan MohanTalat MahmoodAap Yun Hi Agar Humse Milte RaheEk Musafir Ek HasinaO. P. NayyarAsha Bhosle & Mohammed RafiBole To BaansuriSawan Ko Aane DoRaj KamalK. J. YesudasBekas Pe Karam Kijie YeMughal-e-AzamNaushadLata Mangeshkar Kanha Re Nand NandanSingleTraditionalNeeti Mohan

Songs listed below sound closer to Hameer Kalyani(Carnatic) which is similar to Kedar(Hindustani).

Tamil Song Movie Composer Singer En Uyir Thozhi Karnan Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy P. Susheela Udaluku Uyir Kaaval Manapanthal P. B. Sreenivas Kannizhantha Enippadigal K. V. Mahadevan P. Susheela Chandrodayam Oru Pennanatho Chandhrodhayam M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela Vellaikkamalathiley Gowri Kalyanam Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi Kaaluku Keezhe Naluvuthu SilambuK. S. Chitra Netru parthatho En Kanavar S. P. Venkatesh Yeriyile Oru Kashmir Roja (Ragamalika:Kedar/Hamirkalyani,Valaji) Madhanamaaligai M. B. Sreenivasan P. Suseela, K. J. Yesudas Devi Vantha Neram Vandichakkaram Shankar–Ganesh S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,Vani Jairam Kaiyil Veenai Vietnam Colony Ilaiyaraaja Bombay Jayashree Inimel Naalum Iravu Pookkal S. Janaki Manasukkul Kalyana Agathigal V. S. Narasimhan Raj Sitaraman, P. Susheela Nila Kaikiradhu Indira A. R. Rahman Hariharan, Harini Malargale Malargale (Shades of Sarawathi and Hamirkalyani) Love Birds K. S. Chitra, Hariharan Swasame Swasame (Ragamalika:Kedar/Hamirkalyani,Maand) Thenali S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sadhana Sargam Kanava Illai Kaatra Ratchagan Srinivas Murali Mogha Galatta Kalyanam Haricharan, K. S. Chitra Iruvathu Vayathu Varai Kannodu KanbathellamDeva Hariharan, S. Janaki Pirivellam Soori Harish Raghavendra, Chinmayi

Language : Telugu

SongMovieComposerSingersSrideviniSri Venkateswara MahatyamPendyala (composer)S. VaralakshmiSadhinchanounaRahasyam (1967 film)Ghantasala (musician)Ghantasala (musician) & P. SusheelaNee Madhu Murali gaana leelaBhakta JayadevaS. Rajeswara RaoGhantasala (musician)Lalitha KalaradhanaloKalyani (1979 film)Ramesh NaiduS. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Hindi Following are the films that used material from raga Kedar: - Mughal-e-Azam (1960)- Lata Mangeshkar - Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979)- Yesudas (1957) – Hemant Kumar, Manna Dey, Sudha Malhotra, Chorus - Guddi (1971) – Vani Jairam

References

Sources Chandra Kanta

External links Raga Kedar – A Perspective SRA on Samay and Ragas