Gurbani Raag

Gurbani Raag: Asa
Asa is a very old raga, once
popular in the Punjab but seldom
heard in concerts today. In the
Ragmala this is a ragini of raga
Megha. However, today it is
assigned to the Bilaval thata. Asa
is a devotional raga for the cold
season and is performed in the
early morning just before sunrise.
However, it is also known as a
twilight melody with a calm
mystical mood. Asa was used by
Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru
Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru
Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Asa raga literally means the
melody of hope. As the Gurus
emphasised the singing of God’s
praises before dawn, this raga is
conducive to kirtan before day-
break. It is a soothing and
pleasing raga, appropriate for the
singing of the Asa-di-var, the
morning-prayer of the Sikhs. Guru
Ramdas’s Chhants ser the tone of
this blissful composition:
“My eyes are damp with the
nectar of the Lord;
My soul is filled with His
love” [7].
Aroh : Sa Re Ma Pa Dha Sa
Avroh : Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa
Vadi : Ma
Samvadi : Sa
Asa is a crooked (vakra) raga in
that approaches to certain notes
have to be made from a set
position. Its variants as given in
the Holy Book are Kafi and
Asavari, both of which have many
features in common with Asa. This
raga may have originated in
Maharashtra about the time of the
major Muslim invasions. Its
pleasing sound made it suitable
bhajans by the Hindu devotees.