Multani

Multani, according to a few, is a name reminiscent of Multan, a region in the north-western undivided Indian subcontinent. However, the guess is merely to be noted as that. Raj-tarangini and a few other texts mention the name suggesting that Multani is not very recent. Interestingly the older references to the Raga are as Multani Dhanashri.

Pandit Bhatkhande rightly interprets it as an indication that the Raga should follow the Dhanashri Raga-frame thus omitting notes Re and Dha in ascent and taking all notes in the descent – as it indeed it does today. The medieval texts place it in Poorvi Thaat while the present version is placed in Todi Thaat. The present Raga is however rendered in the afternoon while the texts place it as a morning Raga (referring to it as ‘Prabhasika’.

It is also to be noted that today there are compositions – though rare rendered as in Raga Multani Dhanashri that can be placed in Pooorvi Thaat. Multani Dhanashri appears to be only a rare sub-variety of this Raga in circulation of very few musicians.