Shuddha Sarang

The term Shuddha in the Raga-name is often taken to mean ‘pure’ - though actually it merely means ‘Yathapoorva’ i.e. ‘as it was before‘. Significantly there is indeed an opinion that holds present version of Raga Shuddha sarang as the ‘original’ Sarang (i.e. Brindavani sarang in the contemporary circulation!). However the rather limited number of compositions in the Raga as also the genres it explores (-it is mostly the Khayal-) suggest that the Raga is of comparatively recent origin. The Raga though not of an ancient lineage however does not belong to the species of rare Raga and it has apparently become popular in a comparatively short time. Expectably it does not find mention in early musicological texts. In sum, musicological purpose is adequately served if the present-day Shuddha Sarang is treated as a sub-variety of Raga Sarang.