Ragamala
Guru Granth Sahib
← Mundavani
Folio of the Ragamala composition of the Kartarpur Bir which was written by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Guru Arjan, ca.1604
Information
ReligionSikhism
AuthorDisputed
LanguageSant Bhasha
Versestwelve verses running into sixty lines
Part of a series on the
Guru Granth Sahib
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Popular compositions
Other compositions
Various aspects
Poetical metres, modes, measures, and rhythms

Ragmala, alternatively spelt as Raagmala or Ragamala (Punjabi: ਰਾਗਮਾਲਾ (Gurmukhi); pronounced rāgmālā), is a composition of twelve verses, running into sixty lines that names various ragas, which appears in most saroops of Guru Granth Sahib after the compositions of Guru Arjan entitled Mundavani (ਮੁੰਦਾਵਣੀ; meaning "The Royal Seal").

The title literally means a 'garland of Ragas, or musical melodies'. "Mala" means "garland", while "Raga" is a "musical composition or mode", which has also given rise to the series of Ragamala paintings. This list differs according to the author and the music school it is based upon. Thus, there exists a number of such lists in the music text books of India.

Controversy

Sikh Ragamala paintings from the last page of an illustrated Guru Granth Sahib, which carries the last verse of the Ragmala in a tiny circle. The script is in the Paonta Sahib hand. ca.18th century

There are eight raags that are utilised in Guru Granth Sahib that have not been mentioned in the Raagmala. These are: Bihagara, Wadahans, Manjh, Jaitsri, Ramkali, Tukhari, Prabhati and Jaijawanti. Mali-Gaura is not included in Raagmala but Gaura is.[1]

“The last pages of the Kartarpur Beerh do not suggest, either because of the presence of blank spaces, or scoring out, or obliteration hortal, or otherwise, that there was or could have been the least intention to write these hymns in the Granth. The Mudaavni is on page 973/1. Pages 973/2 and 974/1 are blank, and on page 974/2 is Raagmala. As such, there could never have been the possibility, nor could it ever have been contemplated that these three writings requiring a space of over four pages could have been accommodated on the two blank pages 973/2 and 974/1.” [2] - Professor Sahib Singh

According to Dr. S. S. Kapoor, the Sikh scholars differ in their opinion about its inclusion in the Granth. The traditional school thinks it to be a part of the Guru Granth Sahib and asserts that it is an index of the raags used in the Guru Granth Sahib. This argument can be challenged on the grounds that a number of raags mentioned Raagmala are not in the Guru Granth Sahib and a number of raags used in the Guru Granth Sahib are not in the Raagmala. Another argument of the traditional schools (sampardai) that it is a part of the original copy and is written in the same ink and with the same pen as was used for the other parts of the Granth.

Various Sikh Sampardas (traditional lineages of knowledge) allege that the Raagmala is not a rosary of the Raags of the Guru Granth Sahib, but rather has a deeper spiritual meaning.

Official Sikh standpoint on the Raagmala

Article XI (a) of the Sikh Rehat Maryada (SRM): "The reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib (intermittent or non-stop) may be concluded with the reading of Mundawani alone or the Rag Mala according to the convention traditionally observed at all the concerned places. (Since there is a difference of opinion within the Panth on this issue, nobody should dare to write or print a copy of Guru Granth Sahib excluding the Raag Mala)."[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Surindar Siṅgh Kohli. A Critical Study of Adi Granth. Delhi, 1961
  2. ↑ Professor Sahib Singh. About the Compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Tr. Daljit Singh). Amritsar, 1996
  3. ↑ "Sikh Reht Maryada, the Definition of Sikh, Sikh Conduct & Conventions, Sikh Religion Living, India". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2013-02-01.

Further reading

  • Śabadārath Srī Gurū Granth Sāhib. Amritsar, 1964
  • Shamsher Singh Ashok. Rāgmālā Nirṇai. Amritsar, n.d.
  • Surindar Siṅgh Kohli. A Critical Study of Adi Granth. Delhi, 1961
  • Max Arthur Macauliffe. The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Oxford, 1909
  • Professor Sahib Singh. About the Compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Tr. Daljit Singh). Amritsar, 1996
  • Madan Singh. Raag Maala - A Re-appraisal in the Context of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Amritsar, 2003.
  • Taran Singh. Ragmala. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Vol. III. Ed. Harbans Singh. Punjabi University, Patiala, 1997. P 426.
  • Kavi Santokh Singh. Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth. https://web.archive.org/web/20080905180746/http://www.ik13.com/Rasses/SGPS%20Raas%203.pdf
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