Ahir Bhairav

<p><span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: medium;">Ahir Bhairav is one of those Ragas which have taken hold of the imagination of artists. As the name suggests, the likely association is with a folk tune originating in the music of the Ahir-s, an ancient pastoral tribe to which Lord Krishna belonged. The joint name does not occur in the early texts. Names such as Ahiri, Abhiri/Aabheri and Aaheri<strong> </strong>occur, but they are obviously to be treated as of different Ragas. As a variety of Bhairav, it attracts attention because it considerably softens the former. It is difficult to come across traditional <em>dhrupad</em> or <em>dhamar</em> compositions in the Raga and thus its entry into Raga-music could be taken as more recent. It is also significant to note that the Raga does not have a very general circulation in the major <em>gharana</em>-s specializing in <em>khayal</em>.</span></p>