Gaur Malhaar

Live in 2002

Raag Gaur Malhaar is among the oldest version of raag Malhaar, and is older than the popular Mian Ki Malhaar.

It combines elements of the forgotten Raag Gaur and of Raag Malhaar, is associated with the monsoon rains and is rumoured to have magical properties to induce rain. Legend has it that the Mughal emperor Akbar once asked his court musician Mian Tansen to sing Raga Deepak, the raag of light, which caused all the lamps in the courtyard to light up and Tansen’s body to become so hot that he thought he would soon boil to death. Two sisters, Tana and Riri, whom he asked for help agreed to sing Raag Malhaar. When they sang the raag, it started raining and this cooled Mian Tansen and saved him from boiling.