Wheels of Raaga Album – https://arrivanisai.com/wheels-of-raaga-album
The time theory in Indian Classical Music suggests that Ragas are associated with time. They are to be sung & listened at specific times in the day to create a specific mood or experience and appears to be at height of its melodic beauty and majestic splendor. There are some Ragas which are very attractive in the early hours of the mornings; others which appeal in the evenings, yet others which spread their fragrance only near the midnight hour. To determine the performance times of each raga, Pandit V.N. Bhatkhande divided the day into eight section or watches, then assigned each raga to a specific section according to its underlying tonal characteristics. Each note in a raga has a certain level of importance vis-a-vis the other notes, and these relationships change subtly during the different times of the day.
The 24 hour period is divided into 8 section each lasting for three hours long, as follows:
| 04 a.m. to 07 a.m. | 4th beat of the night | Early Dawn; Dawn (before sunrise) |
| 07 a.m. to 10 a.m. | 1st beat of the day. | Daybreak; Early Morning; Morning; |
| 10 a.m. to 01 p.m. | 2nd beat of the day. | Late Morning; Noon; Early Afternoon; |
| 01 p.m. to 04 p.m. | 3rd beat of the day. | Afternoon; Late Afternoon; |
| 04 p.m. to 07 p.m. | 4th beat of the day. | Evening Twilight; Dusk (sunset); |
| 07 p.m. to 10 p.m. | 1st beat of the night. | Evening; Late Evening; |
| 10 p.m.to 1 a.m. | 2nd beat of the night. | Night; Midnight; |
| 01 a.m. to 4 a.m. | 3rd beat of the night. | Late Night |
Each Raga is associated with a definite mood (rasa) or sentiment that nature arouses in human beings. The ancient musicologists were particularly interested in the effects of musical notes, how it effected and enhanced human behaviour. Music had the power to cure, to make you feel happy, sad, disgusted and soon.
Human body is dominated by the three fundamental elements – Kapham , Pittam and Vatham . These elements work in a cyclic order of rise and fall during the 24 hour period. Also, the reaction of these three elements differ with the seasons. Hence it is said that performing or listening to a raga at the proper allotted time can provide profound impact on health of human beings.
The approximate times of these cycles are as follows
First cycle:
- 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. – Kapha
- 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. – Pitta
- 2 P.M. to 6 P.M. – Vata
Second cycle:
- 6 P.M. to 10 P.M. – Kapha
- 10 P.M. to 2 P.M. – Pitta
- 2 A.M to 6 P.M. – Vata
Note: Time theory of ragas may be said to be only advisory and not mandatory.
