1. Mood-based:
- Joyful: Raags like Bilawal, Kalyan, Jhinjhoti, Todi, Miyan ki Todi often evoke feelings of joy, optimism, and celebration. They typically use bright swaras, fast tempos, and lively rhythms.
- Melancholy: Raags like Bhairavi, Poorvi, Asavari, Kafi, Marwa tend to create a mood of sadness, longing, and introspection. They often use komal swaras, slow tempos, and subtle ornaments.
- Majestic: Raags like Bhairav, Khamaj, Yaman, Desh evoke grandeur, dignity, and introspective reflection. They use a wider range of swaras, moderate tempos, and powerful melodic phrases.
2. Time-based:
- Morning: Raags like Puriya Dhanashree, Basant Bahar, Miyan ki Todi are traditionally associated with mornings and evoke a sense of freshness and awakening.
- Evening: Raags like Malkauns, Darbari Kanada, Kafi, Yaman Kalyan are typically sung or played in the evenings and create a mood of calmness and contemplation.
- Night: Raags like Bhairavi, Asavari, Marwa are best suited for the night and evoke feelings of depth, introspection, and sometimes longing.
3. Season-based:
- Spring: Raags like Basant Bahar, Bhimpalasi, Miyan ki Todi capture the essence of spring with their bright melodies and lively rhythms.
- Summer: Raags like Yaman, Yaman Kalyan, Desh tend to have longer phrases and slower tempos, reflecting the heat and stillness of summer.
- Monsoon: Raags like Megh Malhar, Miyan ki Todi, Jaijaiwanti create a melancholic and introspective mood through their frequent komal swaras and slow tempos, mirroring the rainy season.
- Autumn: Raags like Bhairavi, Malkauns, Darbari Kanada evoke a sense of maturity and acceptance with their deep melodies and thoughtful phrases.
Similarities within types:
Raags within the same type often share characteristics like:
- Mood: Joyful raags typically use similar bright swaras and rhythmic patterns, while melancholic raags often share komal swaras and slow tempos.
- Structure: Raags of a similar time or season may use comparable melodic elements and phrases, reflecting the atmosphere associated with that time.
- Thaat: Many ragas within a type belong to the same thaat, sharing its fundamental tonal character.
