in Life

Raga and Emotions

Each raga evokes different emotions when it’s played/heard. Here is a small list of ragas associated with appropriate emotions. This is quite interesting to me because each raga although has its own emotion tied to it in a generic sense, to a large degree, I think it also depends on the listener’s mental state. For example, is it possible for a song in Ahirbhairavi or Shubhapanthuvarali to evoke a happy feeling although the raga may evoke melancholic emotions?

Courage:
Bilahari, Begada, Atanaa, Gambheera Nattai

Karuna
Sahana, Varali, Kaanada, Naadanamakriyaa

Bhakthi:
Revati, Karaharapriya, Kapi, Kedaragowla

Shringara(romance devotion and adornment)
Bhairavi, Asaaveri, Kalyani, Kamaas

Joy and Happiness:
Hamsadhwani, Kedaaram, Mohanam, Sankarabharanam

Adhbuta:
Saaranga, Behaag

Pride:
Devagandhari

Pathos:
Saveri, Mukhari, Shubhapanthuvarali

Vathsalya:
Neelambhari