The universal message of music has the ability to "touch" everyone and so transposes the written words of the Shabad to a psychological level; differing sounds have direct effects on the mind, body and soul. Through the use of Raags these effects have been harnessed to explain and enhance the message of Siri Guru Granth Sahib . In order for the message of the Sahabad to remain as the Guru intended, each Shabad has been prescribed a specific Raag.
Based on the fundamentals of Raga (melody) and Tala (rhythm) the music has developed continuously through ancient and medieval times into a system capable of expressing the finest shades and degrees of color and emotion.
A raga is formed from a series of ascending and descending notes selected from a given music scale. Within this skeleton, the musician brings out the melody that gives a particular raga its character and mood: joy, sadness, romance, or a combination of these and other basic emotions.
The Guru's set the Bani of Guru Granth Sahib in Ragas. Except for a few pages, the Guru Granth Sahib is arranged into 31 Ragas and tunes (34 mixed ragas and 31 independent ragas).
The Sikh Gurus used the Ragas in their bani, enshrined in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib as follows:-:
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, - 19 Ragas
Guru Angad Dev Ji, - 10 Ragas
Guru Amar Das Ji, - 17 Ragas
Guru Ram Das Ji, - 29 Ragas
Guru Arjan Dev Ji, - 30 Ragas
Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, - 15 Ragas
The 31 Ragas in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib are as follows:-
1. Sri Raag 2. Majh 3. Gauri 4. Rag Asa 5. Gujri
6. Dev Gandhari 7. Bihagra 8. Wadhans 9. Sorath 10. Dhanasri
11. Jait Sri 12. Todi 13. Bairari 14. Tilang 15. Suhi
16. Bilawal 17. Gaund 18. Ramkali 19. Nat Narian 20. Mail Gaura
21. Maru 22. Tukhari 23. Kedara 24. Bhairo 25. Basant
26. Sarang 27. Malhar 28. Kanhara 29. Kalyan 30. Parbhati
Please click each one to listen using windows media player.
Guru Nanak - Composed Bani in 19 Raags viz Sri, Majh Gauri, Asa. Gurjri, Wadhans, Sorath, Dhanasri, Tilang, Suhi, Bilawal, Ramkali,.Tukhari, Bhairav, Basant, Sarang, Malaar and Prabhati. The total number of compositions are 974.
Guru Angad - Composed only 62 sloaks which have been incorporated in vars.
Guru Amardas - Composed Bani in 17 Raags,all the Raags used by Guru Nanak except Tilang and Tukhari. Total number of compositions are 907.
Guru Ramdas - Composed Bani in 29 Raags, all the Raags used in Guru Granth Sahib (except Raag Kedara and Jai Jai Vanti). Total number of compositions are 679.
Guru Arjan - composed Bani in 30 Raags, all the Raags used in Guru Granth Sahib except Raag jai Jai Vanti. Total compositions are 2218.
Guru Hargobind - It is said that he added tunes to 9 vars out of a total of 24 vars. These vars are: Majh Di Var, Gauri Di Var, Asa Di Var, Wadhans Di Var, Gujri Di Var, Ramkali Di Var, Sarang di Var; Malaar Di Var and Kanta Di Var.
Guru Tegh Bahadur - Composed Bani in 15 Raags which are: Gauri, Asa, Gujri, Bihagra,
Sorath, Jaitsri, Dhanasri, Todi, Tilang. Bilawal, Rankali Maru Basant, Sarang and Jai Jai Vanti. The Raag Jai Jai Vanti has been used only by Guru Tegh Bahadur. Total number of compositions are 115.
Guru Gobind Singh - It is said that there is one Sloak (page 1429 Sloak number 54) composed by Guru Gobind Singh.
(ii) The relatives of the Sikh Gurus
Baba Sundar - Sundar was the great grandson of Guru Amardas. There is one hymn of six verses in Raag Ramkali composed by Baba Sundar (page 923). It is said that this hymn was composed by Baba Sundar at the death of Guru Amardas.
(iii) The Musicians/Bards of the Sikh Gurus
Mardana - He was companion and musician of Guru Nanak. There are 3 sloaks of Mardana in Bihagra Di Var ( page 553). Sata & Balwand - They were bards in the court of Guru Angad. Once in their ego they thought that the glory of Guru's house was due to their singing. They resigned and did not come to the Guru. After a few days they realized their folly and came back to the Guru for forgiveness. They were duly forgiven. There is a Var in praise of the Guru in Guru Granth Sahib, in Raag Ramkali (page 966).
(iv) The Bhagats
1. Sheikh Farid - composed hymns in Raags Asa and Suhi. Total compositions are 134.
2. Jai Dev - composed hymns in Raags Gujri and Maru. Total compositions are 2.
3. Kabir - composed Bani in 17 Raags Viz Sri, Gauri, Asa, Gujri, Sorath, Dhanasri, Tilang, Suhi, Bilawal, Gauri, Rankali, Maru, Kedara, Bharav, Basant, Sarang and Malar, Kanra, Prabhati. Total compositions are 541.
4. Namdav - Composed Bani in 17 Raags viz Gauri, Asa, Gujri, Sorath, Dhanasri, Todi, Tilang, Bilawal, Guara, Ramkali, Mali-Guara, Maru, Bhairav, Basant Sarang, Malar, Kanra, Prabhati. Total compositions are 60.
5. Ravidas - Composed Bani in 16 Raags viz Sri, Gauri, Asa, Gujri, Sorath, Dhanasri, Jaitsri, Suhi, Gaur, Bilawal, Ramkali, Maru, Kedara, Bharav, Basant and Malaar. Total compositions are 41.
6. Beni - Composed Bani in Raags Sri, Ramkali and Prabhati. Total compositions are 3.
7. Trilochan - Composed Bani in Raags Sri, Gujri and Shanasri. Total compositions are 4.
8. Ramanand - Composed one hymn in Raag Basant.
9. Dhanna - Composed four hymns in Raags Asa and Dhanasri.
10. Bhikhan - Composed two hymns in Raag Sorath.
11. Sadhna - Composed one hymn in Raag Bilawal.
12. Pipa - Composed one hymn in Raag Dhanansri.
13. Sain - Composed one hymn in Raag Dhanansri.
14. Parmanand - Composed one hymn in Raag Sarang.
15. Surdas - Composed one verse in Raag Sarang.
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