Kafi (raga)


Kafi is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It corresponds to Kharaharapriya in Carnatic music.
Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande classified most ragas into ten thaats. Kafi thaat is one of them. The raga Kafi is the principal raga of its thaat. According to Bhatkhande, its name first appears in the Raga Tarangini of Lochana Pandit, who lived in the Mithila district around the 15th Century CE.
Kafi has a direct lineage with the folk music of India. Folk music in Tappa, Hori, Dadra, Kirtan and Bhajans from different parts of India have been composed in this raga.
Many variations of Kafi exist. Contamination with vivadi swaras is common. This mixing has given rise to Mishra Kafi. Hence, a pure form of Kafi is seldom heard.

Description (''Parichay'')

Varna

Kafi is a sampoorna-sampoorna or heptatonic raga, with komal Gandhar and Nishad.

Aroha">Arohana">Aroha

Sa Re ga Ma Pa Dha ni Sa

[Avarohana]

Sa ni Dha Pa Ma ga Re Sa.

Vadi and Samavadi

Pancham is the vadi swara and Shadaj is the samavadi swara.

[Pakad]

A typical improvisation of Kafi starts as M P D P M g R, g R S, n. D. S
The phrases below and termination in R are characteristic.
S R g M P D n
S, R g M P, M P D g

Chalan">Raga">Chalan

The typical chalan can be illustrated as:
S S R R g g M M
P - - D M P g R
R n D n P D M P
S n D P M G R S.
M P D D n S - S
R g R S N D S -
S R S n D n D P
M P D P g - R -
R n D n P D M P
S n D P M g R S

Organization and relationships

Various ragas, such as Bhimpalasi, Bageshree, Kafi Kanada, Bahar, and Brindabani Sarang are associated with this raga. Important tributaries of this raga include Sindhura, Barwa, Neelambari and Pilu.
In Western Classical Music, Kafi corresponds to the modern Dorian Mode.

Behavior

''Samay'' (Time)

Raat ka dvitiya prahar or evening 9-12

Seasonality

The raga is performed during any season.

Rasa">Rasa (aesthetics)">Rasa

The principal rasa for this raga is sringara.

Important recordings

Language:Tamil">Tamil language">Tamil