This blog post is an extension of the post that I started in July 2018 , titled Raag Jog - the crux of Khayaal
Jog and Multani are two of my favorites of Raags of Hindustani Classical Music / Indian Classical Music. I have a special predilection to Raag Jog. To me , raag Jog represents perfectly, what a Khayal is supposed to be ... Raag Jog is a perfect blend of raags ( Khamaj and Kafi ) that creates a "bhaav and ras" conducive to meditative , soulful and entertaining tunes ... it fits well to the definition of a raag as described in scriptures and literature .. रञ्जयति इति रागः .. an entertainment to mind and soul !
Raag Jog , may have initially meant Yog or union , when it was created and envisioned. The one reasoning to it could be that it is a classic mix of Khamaj and Kafi. A pentatonic tune attributed to Kafi thaat in Bhatkande's classification.
The credit for Raag Jog is attributed to Haji Sujan Khan ( Sujan Singh of Akbar Darbar ). This raag is a specialty of Agra Gharana but is in vogue and popularity with almost all gharanas including the Dhrupadiyas, vocalists and instrumentalists alike.
It provides a perfect "union" of entertainment and philosophy , a union of two raags (khamaj and kafi) , that are supposed to be part of semi-classical or light classical music, to produce a brilliant pentatonic serious but pleasant , soulful and meditative melody of Jog.
Here , Pt Jasraj takes us through the journey of Raag Jog .. from Dhrupad Style rendition to Khayaal with "murchanaa" giving a feel of Raag Vrindavani Sarang , Kedar and Gujari Todi ! This shows the versatility of the pentatonic raag Jog that brings into it all eight "Prahars" encapsulating raags associated with morning to midnight !
Here is my playlist of Raag Jog on Youtube that has most of my favorites
Pt Ajay Chakravarti's Jog is one of the soulful Jog renditions that I like to listen :
The bandish goes as :
धन जोबन नहीं नाम संजोग,
कहत मुनि ज्ञानी करत सब
अपनी - अपनी करनी का भोग
आये हसे सब जाये तो रोये
यूँ ही भुगत सब लोग .. धन जोबन नहीं नाम संजोग
Pt Madhup Moudgal's short rendition of Raag Jog too is my favorite : the bandish goes as
बनरा बनी आयो , ब्याह बनरी को
शुभ घडी ,शुभ दिन , शुभ महूरत मनाओ
I am guessing that this old bandish might have given inspiration to Ut Fayyaj Hussain Khan (प्रेम पिया ) to compose an impromptu bandish in Raag Jog, on occasion of his daughter's marriage ( or it may be even other way around, but both bandishes have than common theme of marriage, union , yog/jog and of happiness of it ) ... now kind of a signature of Raag Jog : "Saajan more ghar aaye "
साजन मोरे घर आये
मन अतिसुख पावे
मंगल गावो शौक पुरावो
प्रेम पिया हम पाए
Raag Jog is my favorite and the joy it gives my soul is immense. The bandishes mentioned above are some of my favorites. I would say that I fell in love with Hindustani Classical Music after listening to Raag Purvi ( Thaat Purvi) and gradually moved from Multani to Bhairav to other raags eventually reaching Raag Jog..
Raag Jog has given me that "ठेहराव" "Theharaav" (pause) .. It has everything that pleases my soul and my mind through music.
Here is a recent addition to my favorite playlist .. a poignant rendition of raag Jog by the Ustad-Shagird duo from Lahore (Pakistan) .. through two beautiful bandishes !
ओ बलमा .. कब घर आओगे , मध जोबत मोरा बीता जाए .. बेगर दरस दिखा जा
साजन कासे कहूँ .. अपने मन के बतियाँ .. बिन तुम्हरे जागी मैं !
- राग जोग
