Gond (raga)
This is an India musical raga (composition) that appears in the Sikh tradition from northern India and is part of the Guru Granth Sahib. Every raga has a strict set of rules which govern the number of notes that can be used; which notes can be used; and their interplay that has to be adhered to for the composition of a tune.
In the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy Granth (book) there are a total of 31 raga compositions and this raga is the seventeenth raga to appear in the series. The composition in this raga appear on a total of 17 pages from page numbers 859 to 876 .
The Ragmala records Gaund and Gund as putras (sons) of Sri Raga, but does not give Gond. The possibility exists that Gond is a regional raga derived from that group of ragas with similar names and characterized by phrases from other ragas e.g. Bilaval, Kanara and Malar. Such names as Gaunda, Gand, Gounda, Gaundi, Goundgiri, and Gunda appear in classifications from the 11th to the 17th centuries. For those still known today (Gaudi, Goundgiri, and Goud) performance rules are obscure. Performance time is late afternoon or early evening and the mood is contemplative and dignified. Gond was used by Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan (29 hymns). The texts ask man to depend solely on the Lord for all benefits since it is He who has given him all his blessings.
The following represents the order of notes that can be used on the ascending and descending phase of the composition and the primary and secondary notes:
- Aroh: Sa Re Ga Ma, Pa Dha Ni Dha Ni Sa
- Avroh: Sa Ni Dha Ni Dha Pa, Ma Ga, Re Sa
- Pakar: Re Ga Ma, Pa Ma, Ma Pa Ni Dha Ni Dha Ni Sa, Ni Dha Ni Pa, Dha Ma
- Vadi: Sa
- Samvadi: Ma