Raag Hansadhwani

For more than a week now, I am breathing Raag Hansadhawani.

I had ordered 5 volumes of "Abhinav Gitanjali" - A book written by Pandit Ramashreya Jha "Ramrang" , a musicologist/vageyyakara of repute in Hindustaani classical music which I received during the beginning of the year.

It's a great treat to read this book. Each raag is discussed at length. A collection of "Bandishes" in each Raag follows this description.

I took up Raag Hansadhwani which is discussed in Vol 1. The reason being, one of my favourtires Ustd. Rashid Khan sahab, has delivered a Raag Hansadhwani bandish called "laagi lagan sakhi pati sana" in Teentaal (madhyalay) with absolute melody and precision.

Though the composition presented in the book differs slightly from the version than Khan sahab has rendered I learnt the book version of it in 2 days time. I spoke to my Guru Mr Gaekwad and had him teach me this again for the last two weeks.

The bandish goes like this

Laagi lagan sakhi pati sana
parama sukha ati aanandana

Angsughandana chandana mathe tilaka dhari
Mriganayana anjana pawana te
Amara honita pati kaaj sukhana

Hansadhwani being a audav-audav raag with the swara set

Sa Re, Ga Pa Ni Sa
Sa Ni Pa Ga Re, Ga Re Ni Pa Sa

is extremely karna-priya (pleasing to the ears).