rāga

1. term

a deep attachment which is permeated by spontaneous and intense absorption in the object of one’s affection. The primary characteristic of rāga is a deep and overpowering thirst for the object of one’s affection. The desire for water is called thirst. When the body is deprived of water, thirst arises. The greater the thirst, the greater the longing for water. When this thirst reaches the point that without water one can no longer maintain the body, it is known as an overpowering thirst. Similarly, when the loving thirst to please the object of one’s affection becomes so intense that in the absence of such service one is on the verge of giving up his life, it is known as rāga.

✍ The symptoms of rāga and dveṣa (attachment and envy) are described in Bhagavad-gītā (3.34):

✍ kusumbha-rāga ✍ mañjiṣṭhā-rāga ✍ nīlima-rāga ✍ nīlī-rāga ✍ pūrva-rāga ✍ rāga-bhakti ✍ rāga-mārga ✍ rāgānuga ✍ rāgātmikā ✍ raktimā-rāga ✍ sambhava-rāga ✍ śyāmā-rāga

2. musical mode

a particular musical mode, order of sound or formula; Bharata Muni enumerates 6 rāgas, namely bhairava, kauśika, hindolai, dīpaka, śrī, and megha, each mode exciting some affection; other writers give other names; sometimes 7 or 26 rāgas are mentioned; they are personified, and each of the 6 chief Rāgas is wedded to 5 or 6 consorts called Rāgiṇīs; their union gives rise to many other musical modes)

✍ bhairava rāga

✍ bhairavī rāga ✍ deśākha rāga ✍ deśavarāḍī rāga ✍ deśīvarāḍī rāga ✍ dīpaka rāga ✍ guṇakarī rāga ✍ gurjarī rāga ✍ hindola rāga ✍ karṇāṭa rāga ✍ kauśika rāga ✍ kedāra rāga ✍ madana rāga ✍ mālava rāga ✍ mālava-gauḍa rāga ✍ megha rāga ✍ pañcama rāga ✍ rāmakarī rāga ✍ śrī rāga ✍ varāḍī rāga ✍ vasanta rāga ✍ vibhāsa rāga