13. Gurbaani Raag Bairaari
This raga appears in the
Ragmala as the first ragini of Sin Raga. In the Mesakarna. Ragmala
(1509), which is almost the same as that of the Guru Granth Sahib, the
first ragini of Siri Raga is given as Vairati. However, modern sources
do not give Bairari nor Vairati but Barari and Varari as well as Varati
are . listed. Kaufmann believes that all of these names refer to the
same raga, Barari.
Whether this is the same as
the old Bairari is open to question. The possibility always exists that
Bairari was a regional tune. It was used by Guru Ram Das for six short
hymns and by Guru Arjan for one. The performance time for Bairari is
during the evening hours and it is currently assigned to the Marva thata.
It resembles Purva Kalyan, the main difference being the use of Pa which
is strong in Bairari and weak in Purya-Kalyan. Popley places Bairari in
the same group as Siri Raga and this would agree with the Ragmala.
Aroh Ni
Re Ga Pa, M'a Ga, M'a Dha Sa
Avroh Sa
Ni D ha P'a, M'a Ga, Pa Ga, Re Sa
Vadi Ga
Samvadi Dha
Introduction
Raga Berari comes from
Marwa Thath. It is mentioned as a consort of Raga Malkaus in Berari
Sarsut, a consort of raga Basant in Shivmat, a consort of raga Pancham
in Kalinath-mat and a consort of raga Bhairo in Hanumat The mood of this
raga is very tender and compassionate.
In the Ragamala listed
at the end of Guru Granth Sahib it is mentioned as a consort of raga
Sri.
The scale and notes of
the raga are as follows:
Arohi (ascending scale) - sa re ga pa ma ga pa dhi ni sa
Avrohi (descending scale) - sa ni dha pa ma ga re sa
The vadi (most
popular) note is 'ga' and samvadi (second most popular) note is 'dha'.
This raga is sung at the
third part of the day i.e., from 12 noon to 3 a.m. The season of its
recitation is winter (sharad) i.e., during October, November. In Guru
Granth Sahib it has hymns from pages 719- 720 (2 pages).
The
Composers
The composers of bath
(hymns) in this raga are:
Gurus
Guru Ramdas
Guru Arjan Dev