Bilahari – a favorite of Nadaswaram Vidwans
By T.M. Sivaraman

Bilahari is usually sung at the beginning of concerts, as a main raga or a sub-main raga with elaborate raga alapana, sangathis, neravals and intricate swaraprastharas in the pallavis.

It is a janya of 29th mela "Dheera Shankarabaranam". It is an audava sampoorna raga with five notes in the arohana and all seven notes in the avarohana.

Aarohanam: S R 2 G3 P D2 S
Avarohanam: S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

The raga conveys the emotions of courage, joy and valour. It is a morning raga.

While singing the alapana, the prayoga,"GPDSNDP" brings out the essence or chaya of the raga, and adds a distinct joyous flavour to the raga.

The swarajati "Rara Venugopala" in Bilahari is used to train beginners in Carnatic music.

Bilahari resembles the Hindustani rag "Aliya Bilawal", except for presence of "N" in the arohana in the Hindustani raga, which is omitted in Bilahari.

Bilahari is a favourite raga of Nadaswaram vidwans.

Some famous compositions in Bilahari are: Dorakuna, intha kannananda, paridanamichite, sri balasubramanyaya, sri chamundeswari, kanbadeppoden ayyane, sri mathurapuri nivasini.


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