Malkauns, known also as rag Malkosh, is a raga in Indian classical music. It is one of the oldest ragas of Indian classical music. The equivalent raga in Carnatic music is called Hindolam, not to be confused with the Hindustani Hindol.
According to Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, Malkauns is a raga that is "sung during small hours of the morning, just after midnight." He further adds that the raga has a soothing and intoxicating effect.
Non-film/album songs SongLanguageAlbumYearComposerLyricistSingerAudio LabelVel VelTamilNithya Bhajanavali Vol-11997Perumbavoor H. RamanathanShri Hari Bhajan SangamShri Hari Bhajan SangamGiri Trading AgencyKarpanai EndralumTamilLord Muruga T M Sounder Revival1999M. S. ViswanathanVaaliT. M. SoundararajansaregamaNarudu GurudaniTeluguNamo Venkatesaya2019Mahesh MahadevKaiwara Sri Yogi NareyanaS. P. Balasubhramanyam, Priyadarshini, Mahesh Mahadev, RaghuramPM AudiosNiladri NathamSanskritJagannath Bhakti Rath Yatra2023Siba Prasad RathDr. Ruru KumarAbhilipsa PandaTimes Music Spiritual
Etymology The name Malkaush is derived from the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears serpents like garlands – the god Shiva. However, the Malav-Kaushik mentioned in classical texts does not appear to be the same as the Malkauns performed today. The raga is believed to have been created by goddess Parvati to calm Lord Shiva, when he was outraged and refused to calm down after Tandav in rage of Sati's sacrifice.
In Jainism, it is also stated that the Raga Malkauns is used by the Tirthankaras with the Ardhamāgadhi Language when they are giving Deshna (Lectures) in the Samavasarana.
Malkaush belongs to Shaivait musical school; in fact most pentatonic ragas belong to Shaivait musical school.
Arohana and avarohana Malkauns belongs to the Bhairavi thaat. Its notes are Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. In Western classical notation, its notes can be denoted as: tonic, minor third, perfect fourth, minor sixth and minor seventh. In raga Malkauns, Rishabh (Re – second) and Pancham (Pa – perfect fifth) are completely omitted. Its jaati is audav-audav (five-five, that is, pentatonic).
Arohana :
Avarohana :
The 'Ga' used is actually Ga-Sadharan (the rough minor third), 316-cent above Sa.Gosvami (1957) p. 236 f. This corresponds to the note ga2, in the 22 shrutis list, with a factor of 6/5.
Vadi and Samavadi The vadi swara is Madhyam (Ma) while the samavadi swara is Shadaj (Sa).
Pakad or chalan Pakad :
Other characteristics
Malkauns is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave (mandra saptak) and in a slow tempo (vilambit laya). Ornaments such as meend, gamak and andolan are used rather than 'lighter' ornaments such as murki and khatka. Komal Ni is generally considered the starting note (graha swara), and the notes komal Ga and komal Dha are performed with vibrato (andolit). All five swaras can function as pausing notes.
The komal Ni in Malkauns is different from the komal Ni in Bhimpalasi.
The best time for this raga is late night. The effect of the raga is soothing and intoxicating.
In teaching this rāg to students in the early 1980s, Ali Akbar Khan confirmed that Malkaush is a midnight rāg of Bhairavi thaat, Aurav jati, with moods of devotion, peace and heroism. He remarked: "Djinni like this rāg" and "At first makes you sleepy, then gives you energy to move mountains." A lakshan geet (song that describes the characteristics of the raag) taught by Khansahib relates that Malkaush is one of the six original male ragas (thus ancient) and that its rasas (roughly "moods") are devotion and heroism [tala: Ada Chautāl]:
Che ragŏ mĕ se eka rāga / Bhakti rasa, vira rasa / Mālakosha kehārvata / Vadī swara madhyamano samavādi sarajamano arohi SgmdmS avarohi nSSndmSndmgmgs
List of ragas in the Kauns family The unique musical structure of Malkauns has given rise to many variations, creating what may be called a 'Kauns' family of related ragas. Chandrakauns Suryakauns Bageshri-Ang Chandrakauns Nandkauns Sampoorna Malkauns Pancham Malkauns Gunkauns Madhukauns Jogkauns Nirmalkauns Tulsikauns Harikauns Mohankauns Charukauns Rageshrikauns
Film songs 'Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj' (film Baiju Bawra, performed by Mohammad Rafi), 'Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi' (film Navrang, performed by Mahendra Kapoor and Asha Bhosle), 'Chham Chham Ghunghroo Bole' (film Kaajal, performed by Asha Bhosle), 'Ankhiyan Sang Ankhiyaan Laagi Aaj' (film Bada Aadmi), 'Balma Maane Na' (film Opera House) and 'Rang raliyaan karat sautan sang' (film Birbal My Brother), 'Ek Ladki Thi' (film Love You Hamesha, performed by Kavita Krishnamurti) are a few Hindi film compositions based on Malkauns. 'Rajasekhara' in the film 'Anarkali' in Tamil and Telugu is a composition based on this in South India. "Ohm Namashivaya" and "Margazhi Poove" songs in Tamil by Ilaiyaraaja and AR Rahman from Salangai Oli and May Madham respectively,""Neenu Neene" song from the movie Gadibidi Ganda, "Ra Ra" song in the movie Apthamitra in Kannada are also the best examples.
Tamil film songs Note that the following songs are composed in Hindolam, the equivalent of raga Malkauns in Carnatic music. SongMovieYearComposerSingerAzhaikatheyManaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam1957P. Adinarayana RaoP. SusheelaKangalum Kavi PaadudheAdutha Veettu Penn1960Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi LoganathanEnnai Vittu Odipoga MudiyumaaKumudham1961K. V. MahadevanSirkazhi Govindarajan, P. SusheelaMaamaa Maamaa MaamaaT. M. Soundararajan, K. Jamuna RaniIravukku AayiramKulamagal Radhai1963P. SusheelaPachchai Maa Malaipol MeniThirumal Perumai1968T. M. SoundararajanOr Aayiram ParvaiyileVallavanukku Vallavan1965Vedha (Credits only)Nilavukku Emmel Ennadi KobamPolicekaran Magal1962Viswanathan–RamamoorthyP. B. SreenivasMalaro NilavoRaga BandhangalKunnakudi VaidyanathanP. JayachandranRamanukku Mannan MudiPathu Matha PanthamShankar–GaneshP. BhanumathiManame MuruganinMotor Sundaram Pillai1966M. S. ViswanathanSoolamangalam JayalakshmiIyarkai EnnumShanti Nilayam1969S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. SusheelaUnnidathil Ennai KoduthenAvalukendru Or Manam1971S. JanakiOm NamashivayaSalangai Oli1983IlaiyaraajaVilakku VaipomAthma1993Sri Devi En VazhvilIlamai Kolam1980K. J. YesudasDarisanam KidaikathaAlaigal Oivathillai1981Ilaiyaraaja, S. JanakiNaan Thedum SevanthiDharma Pathini1986Yentha JenmamEzhumalayan MagimaiRagavane RamanaIlamai Kaalangal1983P. Susheela, K. S. Chithra (Debut in Tamil)Unnal Mudiyum ThambiUnnal Mudiyum Thambi1988S. P. BalasubrahmanyamKanna Unai ThedugirenUnakkaagave Vaazhgiren1986S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. JanakiThendral ThaanKeladi Kanmani1990K. J. Yesudas, K. S. ChithraHey RajaJallikattu1987S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, ManoOoradungum SaamathilePudhupatti PonnuthaayiUma Ramanan, SwarnalathaEn Veettu JannalRaman Abdullah1997Arunmozhi, BhavathariniOh JananiPudhiya Raagam1991ManoNilave Nee Vara VendumEnnarukil Nee IrunthalIlaiyaraaja Vazhatha Pennin Manam Thanga Thamaraigal K. S. ChithraPanja SwarangalPuthiya SangamamGangai AmaranP. SusheelaMarghazhi PooveMay Maadham1994A. R. RahmanShobha ShankarYakkai Thiri (Moves more towards Shuddha Dhanyasi through Graha Bedham)Aaytha Ezhuthu2004A.R.Rahman, Pop Shalini, Tanvi Shah, Sunitha SarathyInnisai AlapadaiyeVaralaru2006Naresh Iyer, MahathiIrumbileEnthiran2010A. R. Rahman, Kash n' KrissyMagudi Magudi (Moves more towards Shuddha Dhanyasi and Jog, through Graha Bedham)Kadal2013Aryan Dinesh, Chinmayee, Tanvi ShahVillage Rocker (Theme) (Moves more towards Shuddha Dhanyasi through Graha Bhedam)Peddi2026A R Rahman, Nitesh AherKumudam PolMoovendhar1998SirpyHariharanKatradikkum NeramVivasaayi Magan1997Mano, K. S. ChithraThevaram PaadathaPartha ParvayilM. M. A. IniyavanSirumalli PooveJallikattu Kaalai1994DevaUn Marbile Vizhi MoodiNinaithen Vandhai1998K. S. ChithraPaadavandha PoonguyileOyilattamS. P. BalasubrahmanyamVa Va EndhanCheran Pandiyan1991SoundaryanAathi VadayileSindhu Nathi Poo1994K. J. Yesudas, Asha LathaSangeetha VanilChinna Poove Mella Pesu1987S. A. RajkumarS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani JairamIthazhodu Ithal SerumMannukkul Vairam1986DevendranS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. JanakiThendraliley MithanthuPuthiya ThendralS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. ChithraSiragulla Nilave VaaInidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu2003Devi Sri PrasadChinna Chinna MegamDevaraagam1996M. M. KeeravaniS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha MohanSanthanam TheychachiManikkam1996Karthik RajaBhavathariniChandira MandalathaiNilaave Vaa1998VidyasagarVijay, Harini, S. P. CharanKavidhai IravuSullan2004Karthik, K. S. Chithra Aazhakkadalu Thendral Madhu BalakrishnanSollathan NinaikirenKadhal Sugamanathu2001Shiva SankarS. P. Balasubrahmanyam (sad version), K. S. ChithraUyirileVettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu2006Harris JayarajMahalakshmi Iyer, SrinivasVatta VattaThennavan2003Yuvan Shankar RajaUnni Menon, PadmalathaKalavaniKodiveeran2017N. R. RaghunanthanV. V. Prasanna, SoundaryaOthaiyadi PathayilaKanaa2018Dhibu Ninan ThomasAnirudh RavichanderKadai KannaaleyBhoomi2021D. ImmanShreya Ghoshal, Varun Parandhaman
Compositions of Hindustani classical music +S.NoBandish typeBandish initial bolComposer/authorTaal1DhrupadAadi Brahma Aadi Naad आदि ब्रह्म आदि नादAcharya Pt Gokulotsavji MaharajChouTaal
Important recordings Amir Khan, Ragas Hansadhwani and Malkauns, His Master's Voice LP (long-playing record), EMI-EASD1357 Mekaal Hasan Band's Maalkauns from the album Andholan is also based on this. Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan presented it in a popular bandish "Aaj more Ghar aaye na Balma"
References
External links Film Songs in Rag Malkauns More details about raga Malkouns
Literature