Rāga Profile · Pūrvāhṇa · Forenoon
Deshkār
देशकार
Open and expansive — a morning rāga of wide, unhurried spaces.
A five-note rāga sharing its scale with Bhūpālī, distinguished entirely by emphasis: Deshkār lives in the upper tetrachord around Dha, where Bhūpālī rests below on Ga.
Time of Performance
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pūrvāhṇa · Forenoon
Thāṭ
BilāwalJāti
Auḍava – AuḍavaVādi
Dha (D)Samvādi
Ga (G)Carnatic Melakartā
28 · Mōhanam
Swara Vistār
Ārohaṇa, Avarohaṇa & Pakaḍ
Notation script
Āroh · Ascent
S R G P D S′
Avroh · Descent
S′ D P, G P D P G, R S
Pakaḍ · Catch-phrase
G P D P G R S
Notation key — komal swaras in lower case, tīvra Ma written M′, mandra saptak marked ˌ and tār saptak with ′.
Chalan
How the Rāga Moves
Phrases begin high and settle downwards. Dha is the note of rest and Pa the note of approach; Ga is touched but rarely dwelt upon. Ma and Ni are omitted entirely.
P D S′, D P G, R S
Tāl
Rhythmic Cycles Used
Vilambit Ektāl
Baḍā khyāl
12 mātrā
Jhaptāl
Madhya laya
10 mātrā
Drut Tīntāl
Choṭā khyāl
16 mātrā
Bandish
Jāgo bansī vāre
Sthāyī · Text
जागो बंसी वारे लाल
भोर भई तोरे द्वारे
Jāgo bansī vāre lāl
bhor bhaī tore dvāre
Antarā · Text
गोपी ग्वालन ठेर खड़ी
माखन रोटी लिये
Gopī gvālan ṭher khaḍī
mākhan roṭī liye
Ṭhekā — Jhaptāl
10 mātrā
X1dhī
2nā
23dhī
4dhī
5nā
06tī
7nā
38dhī
9dhī
10nā
Sthāyī · Swara-lipi
Āvartan 1
X1GJā
2Pgo
23Dban
4Psī
5Gvā
06Rre
7S
38–
9ˌD
10S
Āvartan 2
X1Rbhor
2Gbha
23Pī
4Dto
5S're
06Ddvā
7Pre
38G
9R
10S
Antarā · Swara-lipi
Āvartan 1
X1PGo
2Dpī
23S'gvā
4Dlan
5S'ṭher
06R'kha
7S'ḍī
38D
9P
10G
Āvartan 2
X1Pmā
2Dkhan
23Pro
4Gṭī
5Rli
06Sye
7ˌD
38S
9R
10G
X = sam · 0 = khālī · 2, 3, 4 = tālī · one cell = one mātrā · – = sustain.
Keep the sthāyī anchored above Pa. If the composition sits low around Ga, the ear hears Bhūpālī however correct the notes are.
Practice Notes
Points of Practice
Live in the uttarāṅg
Deshkār is decided by register, not by notes.
Dha is vādi
Rest on Dha; let Ga be a stepping stone.
Compare with Bhūpālī
Sing both back to back — the contrast teaches the rāga faster than rules.
Neighbours on the Circle
← Back to the Circle of Time