Raag Multani

Raag Multani belongs to the Todi thaat. This raag is believed to have originated in the medieval period in Multan, which is in modern-day Pakistan. The first mention of Raag Multani can be traced to Raag Tarangini. The raag was also referred to as Multani Dhanashree.

Key Features of Raag Multani:

• This is an uttaraang pradhan raag since the vadi note, Pa, falls in the higher register.

• This raag qualifies to be a parmel praveshak raag because the introduction of teevra Ma creates a smooth transition from afternoon raags into the evening, sandhiprakash, raags such as Marwa and Shree. This raag is sung towards the end of the 3rd prahar of the day.

• Todi and Multani are samaprakritik raags. One major difference in Multani is the absence of Re and Dha in its aaroh. Another nuanced difference is in the microtones involved in the presentation of Sa, komal Re, and komal Ga. In the descending phrases in Multani, Ga has a kan of Ma, Re has a kan of Sa and Sa has a kan of Ni. Watch the video below for a demonstration.

• Raag Multani creates a calm and tranquil mood. The raag also has an inherent karun and viraha ras.

• What does Raag Multani and Madhuvanti have in common? Their aarohs are identical. And so are their avrohs, except for the fact that Madhuvanti has shuddh Re and Dha.

  Watch the video below to understand exactly how Raag Multani should sound.