# Durga (raga)

Durga is a raga in Hindustani Classical music. It shares some features with Shuddha Saveri of Carnatic music (such as the note positions), but is significantly different from it in terms of the sancharas of the raga.
Unless mentioned otherwise, notes refer to the concept of notes in Indian classical music, called ‘swara’ in Hindustani. Durga raga evokes the sringara rasa – romantic love.

## Technical description

| Feature | Detail | Notes |
| Jati / Nature | Audav-Audav | 5 Notes on both Aaroh and Avroh |
| Aroha | Sa Re Ma Pa Dha Sa | सा रे म प ध सा^ |
| Avaroha | Sa Dha Ma, Pa Dha Ma, Re Dha. Sa | सा^ ध म, प ध म, रे ध_ सा Pancham should not be a resting note in Avroh |
| Pakad | Re Ma Pa Dha, Ma Pa Dha, Ma Re, Sa Re Dha. Sa | |
| Vadi | Ma | |
| Samvadi | Sa | |
| Poorvang-Uttarang | Poorvang | The lower half of the saptak (octave) i.e. S R G M are present. |
| Thaat | Bilawal | |

### Notes and features

* All swaras used are suddha
* Gandhar and Nishad are not used.

### Example composition

R m P D; P D m; m P D D m; D m P D S'; D D S' S' D D m; m P D; m R, D S; Here m is Shuddha Madhyam, M is Tivra Madhyam but this is not used in Durga at all.

## Samay (time)

Second Prahar of night : 9:00 p.m. to midnight (nishitha)

## Comparable to
### Malhar

Durga has the same notes as Malhar, another popular raag and one of old pedigree. The aural experience of both are significantly different. Technically, they are made apart by the use of rishabh (Re). Durga is also readily distinguished by its salient use of the phrase Sa Re Dha Sa
1) Common phrase Re Pa, distinguished by the use of Re Both Durga and Malhar have the Re Pa pairing (sangati), however, the Re Pa cohort in Malhar involves a repetition of Re twice or thrice. More importantly the Re has a kaṇ of shuddha madhyam. (ma)
* Malhar: Ma Re Re Re[ma] Pa
* Durga: Ma Pa Dha Sa’ Re Dha Pa Dha Ma Re Pa.
Here, in Malhar, the transition between Re to Pa, the Re has a kaṇ of ma, and is not independently pronounced. The ma is shown stuck to Re in square brackets. Stylistically, the duplication of ‘Re’ is also noted.
2) Different phrases Also present in the pakad of the raag, Sa Re, Dha Sa is the quintessential phrase of Durga, which is not present in Malhar. (dha denotes dhaivat (dha) of the lower octave i.e. mandra saptak)

### Jaldhar Kedar

Jaldhar Kedar is a variant of, the major raag Kedar, and a part of the raagang of its namesake.

## Film songs

| Song | Movie | Composer | Artists |
| Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne | Geet Gaya Patharon Ne | Ramlal Hirapanna Chowdhury | Asha Bhosle |
| Chanda Re Mori Patiya Le Ja | Banjaarin(1960 film) | Chand Pardesi | Mukesh (singer) & Lata Mangeshkar |
| Brindavan Ka Krishna Kanhaiya | Miss Mary (1957 film) | Hemant Kumar | Lata Mangeshkar & Mohammed Rafi |
| Hum Intezar Karenge | Bahu Begum | Roshan (music director) | Mohammed Rafi |
| Hoga Tumse Pyara Kaun | Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai | R D Burman | Shailendra Singh |

### Bollywood songs

* Geet gaya pattharo ne - Geet Gaya Patharon Ne (1964)
* Chanda re mori patiya le ja - Banjaarin
* Vrindavan ka Krishna Kanhaiya - Miss Mary
* Hum intezaar karenge – Bahu Begam
* Be Nazaara - Mom
* Hoga Tumse Pyara Kaun - Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai

### Language:Tamil

Note that the following songs are composed in Shuddha Saveri, the equivalent of raga Durga in Carnatic music.
| Song | Movie | Composer | Singer |
| Sithaye Ye Sithaye | Sivakavi | Papanasam Sivan | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar |
| Vaadikkai Maranthathum | Kalyana Parisu | A. M. Rajah | A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela |
| Manjal Mugam | Karnan | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | P. Susheela |
| Aadiyile Perukkeduthu Aadivarum | Radha (1973) | M. S. Viswanathan | P. Susheela |
| Swararaaga (Ragamalika:ShuddhaSaveri, Shivaranjani) | Andha 7 Naatkal | M. S. Viswanathan | P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam |
| Poonthendral Kaatrraga | Aval Oru Kavarimaan | R. Ramanujam | Malaysia V. Sarangapani, P. Susheela |
| Radha Radha Nee Enge | Meendum Kokila | Illayaraja | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Kovilmani Osai | Kizhakke Pogum Rail | Illayaraja | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki |
| Kadhal Mayakam | Pudhumai Penn | Illayaraja | P. Jayachandran, Sunandha |
| Rettai Killigal | Ore Oru Gramathiley | Illayaraja | K.J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra |
| Malargalil Adum ilamai | Kalyanaraman | Illayaraja | S. P. Sailaja |
| Asai Kiliyey Naan Solli | Theertha Karaiyinile | Illayaraja | Mano |
| Sithakathi pookale | Rajakumaran | Illayaraja | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Nattu Vacha Roja | Aranmanai Kili | Illayaraja | P. Susheela |
| Manamagale Manamagale | Thevar Magan | Illayaraja | Minmini, Swarnalatha, Sindhuja |
| Sandiyare Sandiyare | Virumaandi | Illayaraja | Shreya Ghoshal |
| Manasaoram | Ayyan | Illayaraja | Sriram Parthasarathy, Sadhana Sargam |
| Maanada Kodi | Muthal Vasantham | Illayaraja | S. Janaki |
| Unakagave Naan Uyir Vazhigiren | Rasigan Oru Rasigai | Raveendran | S. Janaki |
| Vanakkiliye | Kalloori Vaasal | Deva | S. Janaki |
| Kottungadi Kummi | Surieyan | Deva | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| En Uyir Thozhiye | Kangalal Kaidhu Sei | A. R. Rahman | Unni Menon, Chinmayi |
| Sollitharavaa Sollitharavaa | Majaa | Vidyasagar | Madhu Balakrishnan, Sadhana Sargam |
| Athikaalaiyil Sevalai | Nee Varuvai Ena | S. A. Rajkumar | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha |
| Murali | Nagadevathai | Hamsalekha | P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra |
| O Maha Zeeya | Thamizh Padam | Kannan | Hariharan, Shweta |