Bilāwal
Bright, settled and cheerful — the rāga of the plain major scale.
The parent rāga of its thāṭ, using all śuddha swaras. Its identity comes not from accidentals but from its characteristic vakra turns around Ga and Dha, which keep it from sounding like a bare scale.
Ārohaṇa, Avarohaṇa & Pakaḍ
Notation key — komal swaras in lower case, tīvra Ma written M′, mandra saptak marked ˌ and tār saptak with ′.
How the Rāga Moves
Ascent is deliberately crooked — S G R G P rather than a straight run. Nishād is touched lightly on the way to the upper Sa, and the Dha–Ni–Dha–Pa turn in descent is the phrase that names the rāga.
Rhythmic Cycles Used
Kavan baṭariyā gayo śyām
X = sam · 0 = khālī · 2, 3, 4 = tālī · one cell = one mātrā · – = sustain.
A useful first composition for beginners: the tāl is simple and the rāga has no accidentals, so attention can go entirely to the vakra phrases.