This blogpost is about Raag Rageshree or Rageshwari as described in old literature. It has been a traditional raag performed since ages, very popular among veterans like Ut Bade Gulam Ali Khan to modern exponents like Kishori Amonkar. Theoreticians have described it as a Raag that has a mixture of 10 raags, namely; Sindhura, Dhanaashree, Bhairav, Durga, Kanada, Asawari, Kedar, Gauri, Devgiri and Devgandhaar ! (I tend to never believe in such theories)
Rageshree has many variations, the primary being one that has both the nishads and the other that has only komal nishad. The siblings of Rageshree are essentially its variants with additions and deletions of a swar in aroha or avaroah. Two songs or tunes from Hindi movies, that have the feel of Rageshree are "Rahe na rahe hum" and "kaun aaya mere man ke dware"
Variations of Rageshree emerged with different gharanas calling it with different names. Agra gharana has a variation called Pancham Rageshree (or Hindoli) with predominance of Pancham instead of Madhyam. The variation that is a trademark of Jaipur-Atrouli gharana is Khambavati. This finds more resemblance towards Durga and Gauri is ascension and has that characteristic Jaipur "Vakra" descent.
Bhinna-Shadaj is a variant that has a single shuddha nishad and exclusion of Rishabh. The classic bandish "Ud ja re kagaa" is the hallmark of this raag.
Hemant is a related raag that was conceptualized by Ut Allaudin Khan and later popularized by his disciples as well as "Vagyakars" like Ramashray Jha, and singers of Agra Gharana like Pt Jitendra Abhisheki. There is however a similar raag mentioned in old literature that is labelled as Mand / Manjh / Manjh-Khamaj
Hemant and Bhinna Shadaj is also called by the name of Kaushi-Dhwani, by the exponents of Patiala gharana. The classic thumri "Yaad piya ki aaye" by Ut Bade Gulam ali Khan of Patiala gharana that has been a residential part of every concert of the darling of Patiala gharana, Kaushiki Chakravarty, is the flagship of Kaushi-Dhwani, Bhinna Shadaj or Hemant.. all siblings of Raag Rageshree of Khamaj thaat.