Raag Shudh Kalyan
Pancham Raag
Raag

Raag Shudh Kalyan

Kalyan Thaat18:00-20:59Peaceful

What is Raag Shudh Kalyan?

Raag Shudh Kalyan is a melodic framework (raag) in South Asian classical music. It belongs to the Kalyan thaat. Traditionally performed during the 18:00-20:59. It evokes a peaceful mood. The vadi (dominant note) is Gandhar and the samvadi is Dhivat. Stream 7 renditions of Raag Shudh Kalyan on Saarey Music.

A beautiful and peaceful raag, it has notes of Raag Bhoopali in the ascent and Raag Aiman in the descent. In some texts, it is referred to as Raag Bhoop-Kalyan but the name Shudh Kalyan is more popular.

How to recognize Raag Shudh Kalyan

  1. Identify the parent scale. Raag Shudh Kalyan belongs to the Kalyan thaat — listening for the characteristic note pattern narrows the field.
  2. Listen for the vadi. The dominant note is Gandhar, with the samvadi Dhivat supporting it. Emphasized in phrases and pauses, especially in the alap.
  3. Note the time of performance. Raag Shudh Kalyan is traditionally performed during the 18:00-20:59.
  4. Feel the mood. Raag Shudh Kalyan evokes a peaceful rasa — one of the clearest cues.

Renditions in Raag Shudh Kalyan

Raag Shuddh Kalyan by Ustad Abdul Karim Khan

Raag Shuddh Kalyan·

Ustad Abdul Karim Khan

00:04:21
Khayal
Raag Shudh Kalyan (1960) by Roshan Ara Begum

Raag Shudh Kalyan (1960)·

Roshan Ara Begum

00:22:20
Khayal
Raag Shudh Kalyan by Akmal Qadri

Raag Shudh Kalyan·

Akmal Qadri

00:22:36
Khayal
Raag Shudh Kalyan by Alaka Marulkar

Raag Shudh Kalyan·

Alaka Marulkar

00:04:28
Khayal
Raag Shudh Kalyan by Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan

Raag Shudh Kalyan·

Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan

00:29:11
Khayal
Raag Shudh Kalyan by Pandit Milind Chittal

Raag Shudh Kalyan·

Pandit Milind Chittal

00:23:39
Khayal
Raag Shudh Kalyan (Mandar Bajore Bajore) by Pandit Milind Chittal

Raag Shudh Kalyan (Mandar Bajore Bajore)·

Pandit Milind Chittal

00:05:21
Khayal

Frequently Asked Questions

Raag Shudh Kalyan is a melodic framework in South Asian classical music belonging to the Kalyan thaat, traditionally performed during 18:00-20:59. It evokes a peaceful mood. A beautiful and peaceful raag, it has notes of Raag Bhoopali in the ascent and Raag Aiman in the descent. In some texts, it is referred to as Raag Bhoop-Kalyan but the name Shudh Kalyan is more popular.
Raag Shudh Kalyan is traditionally performed during 18:00-20:59. In South Asian classical music, each raag is associated with a specific time of day or night, believed to enhance its emotional impact and resonate with the natural rhythms of that period.
For the most authentic experience, listen to Raag Shudh Kalyan during 18:00-20:59. South Asian classical music theory holds that each raag resonates most powerfully at its designated time, aligning with the listener's emotional and physiological state during that period. However, great performances of Raag Shudh Kalyan can be appreciated at any time.
Raag Shudh Kalyan evokes a peaceful mood. In South Asian classical music, each raag is associated with a specific emotional quality (rasa) that the performer seeks to communicate through melodic phrases and ornamentations. The peaceful character of Raag Shudh Kalyan is expressed through its particular combination of notes, emphasis patterns, and characteristic phrases (pakad).
Raag Shudh Kalyan belongs to the Kalyan thaat. A thaat is a parent scale in South Asian classical music from which raags are derived. The Kalyan thaat provides the foundational note set that Shudh Kalyan elaborates upon with its specific ascending and descending patterns.
The vadi (most important note) of Raag Shudh Kalyan is Gandhar and the samvadi (second most important note) is Dhivat. The vadi and samvadi are the two dominant notes around which the raag's melodic phrases revolve, giving it its distinctive character.