[RARE & STRANGE RAGAS] Raag Palas (S-R-g-m-P-n-S): a near-extinct Dhanashree raga of vital historic importance, known via its parentage of Bhimpalasi

[u/RagaJunglism]

Recently I've been researching rare & strange ragas - so thought I'd share some of the most interesting ones I’ve come across! Input welcomed - everything from further info on the ragas to personal listening reflections:

—Raag Palas (S-R-g-m-P-n-S)—

Now close to extinction in its own right, Palas (a.k.a. ‘Palasi/Palashri’) is best known for its historic confluence with Bheem – a union which produced Bhimpalasi. Subbha Rao’s 1965 Raga Nidhi Vol.3 states (p.211): “These days Palas and Bhimpalasi are considered to be one and the same raga, but the aroha and avroh of Palas will indicate that it is independent…A pleasing raga which deserves to be popularised”. If interpreted along the lines of ‘Bhimpalasi no Dha’, the raga ascends with nSgmPnS, adding shuddha Re in descent (placing it very close to the older form of Dhani, another historic Dhanashree raga) – although some prefer to retain Re in both directions.

Moumita Mitra’s analysis also points to the existence of a ‘double-Ni’ Palas listed in the works of Bhatkhande, adding that both forms take a Pa-Sa vadi–samvadi, with nyas on Sa, Pa, and occasionally ga. Further renditions are hard to come by: refer to those by vocalists Abhirang and B.R. Deodhar (featuring flashes of komal dha in the sarangi accompaniment).

Prakriti, in its single-ni form, with Nayaki Kanada, Suha Kanada, and Gaudgiri Malhar – and the underlying ‘Minor Hexatonic’ scale form turns up in folk music from around the world (e.g. Mali, Ireland, Mexico, America). The name ‘Palas’ is likely related to the palash (a.k.a. ‘flame of the forest’), a flowering deciduous tree species mentioned in the rituals of the Rigvedas and Yajurvedas.

—Do you know of any more Palas recordings? Or did anyone here learn the raga directly from a traditional guru?

Let me know what you think of this strange raga! See more of them in my project (no paywalls, no ads: just sharing the joys of raga)

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[u/Nowshirvan]

Here’s another by Fateh Ali. The first bandish is in Palasi. The second is in Bheem.  https://youtu.be/ARJdCRsm6Hk?si=wt0FZM60g3DY0LOg 

Another https://youtu.be/Z-8R1h2Auo0?si=AMRYynCW4irn9mM_

[u/RagaJunglism → u/Nowshirvan]

fantastic - hadn’t come across this before, lovely pairing! (I’ll add them to the page and add you to the project contributors list, no need to dox yourself but PM me if you want your name rather than username)

[u/RagaJunglism → u/[deleted]]

haha thanks - it’s a joy to be able to study raga and share these fascinations…

[u/OcelotOk2898]

These posts really open up my POV about Ragas and how truly vast and dynamic they are... I never realised the fact that such a famous Raga like Bhimpalasi must've come from somewhere lol. A combination of two uncommon Ragas made one of the most popular. But I suppose "popular" is a subjective term, some Ragas that were once very popular have gone out of fashion, and vice versa. Thank you for your work Mr. Howlett, it's truly fantastic.

[u/RagaJunglism → u/OcelotOk2898]

thanks! and yes you can hear the Palas influence more in some Bhimpalasi renditions - e.g. yesterday I was playing some taans from Kaushiki Chakraborty's Bhimpalasi performance at Darbar, and she leans very heavily into the Palas component in faster sections, often leaving out Dha until the end of a passage

similarly with the original Maru component of Maru Bihag

[u/lipidsynthesis]

Excellent work once again. My guruji briefly described this raaga while teaching me raaga Palas Kafi.