Raag Yaman
Pancham Raag
Raag

Raag Yaman

Kalyan Thaat18:00-20:59Restful

What is Raag Yaman?

Raag Yaman 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 restful mood. The vadi (dominant note) is Gandhar and the samvadi is Nikhad. Stream 11 renditions of Raag Yaman on Saarey Music.

Pandits say that Hazrat Amir Khusro brought this raag from Iran and called it Yaman but many claim it to be invented in the Pakistan-Indo subcontinent. Others say that Hazrat Amir Khuso brough Raag Yaman from Iran but made critical changes so its orginal shape was completely changed and it became what we now know as Raag Aiman.

How to recognize Raag Yaman

  1. Identify the parent scale. Raag Yaman 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 Nikhad supporting it. Emphasized in phrases and pauses, especially in the alap.
  3. Note the time of performance. Raag Yaman is traditionally performed during the 18:00-20:59.
  4. Feel the mood. Raag Yaman evokes a restful rasa — one of the clearest cues.

Renditions in Raag Yaman

Raag Yaman by Shubha Sankaran

Raag Yaman·

Shubha Sankaran

00:24:27
Khayal
Raag Yaman by Aliya Rasheed

Raag Yaman·

Aliya Rasheed

00:40:56
Dhurpad
Woh Mujh Sey Huey Hum Kalam by Beenish Pervaiz

Woh Mujh Sey Huey Hum Kalam·

Beenish Pervaiz

00:07:11
Ghazal
Raag Yaman by Beenish Pervaiz

Raag Yaman·

Beenish Pervaiz

00:22:53
Khayal
Woh Mujh Sey Huey Hum Kalam by Beenish Pervaiz

Woh Mujh Sey Huey Hum Kalam·

Beenish Pervaiz

00:04:46
Ghazal
Raag Yaman by Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan

Raag Yaman·

Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan

00:47:52
Khayal
Raag Yaman Alap by Tahir Qawwal

Raag Yaman Alap·

Tahir Qawwal

00:04:30
Khayal
Raag Yaman by Vijay Kumar

Raag Yaman·

Vijay Kumar

00:16:27
Khayal
Raag Yaman by Salman Haider

Raag Yaman·

Salman Haider

00:19:01
Khayal
Raag Yaman by Pandit Milind Chittal

Raag Yaman·

Pandit Milind Chittal

00:05:34
Khayal
Ram Bhajan in Raag Yaman by Pandit Milind Chittal

Ram Bhajan in Raag Yaman·

Pandit Milind Chittal

00:05:40
Bhajan

Frequently Asked Questions

Raag Yaman is a melodic framework in South Asian classical music belonging to the Kalyan thaat, traditionally performed during 18:00-20:59. It evokes a restful mood. Pandits say that Hazrat Amir Khusro brought this raag from Iran and called it Yaman but many claim it to be invented in the Pakistan-Indo subcontinent. Others say that Hazrat Amir Khuso brough Raag Yaman from Iran but made critical changes so its orginal shape was completely changed and it became what we now know as Raag Aiman.
Raag Yaman 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 Yaman 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 Yaman can be appreciated at any time.
Raag Yaman evokes a restful 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 restful character of Raag Yaman is expressed through its particular combination of notes, emphasis patterns, and characteristic phrases (pakad).
Raag Yaman 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 Yaman elaborates upon with its specific ascending and descending patterns.
The vadi (most important note) of Raag Yaman is Gandhar and the samvadi (second most important note) is Nikhad. The vadi and samvadi are the two dominant notes around which the raag's melodic phrases revolve, giving it its distinctive character.