The name Malkaush is derived from the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears serpents like garlands — the god Shiva. However, the Malav-Kaushik mentioned in classical texts does not appear to be the same as the Malkauns performed today. The raga is believed to have been created by goddess Parvati to calm Shiva, when the lord Shiva was outraged and was not calming down after Tandav in rage of Sati's sacrifice. Malkaush belongs to Shaivait musical school; in fact most pentatonic ragas belong to Shaivait musical school.
Malkauns belongs to the Bhairavithaat. Its notes are Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. In Western classical notation, its notes can be denoted as: tonic, minor third, perfect fourth, minor sixth and minor seventh. In raga Malkauns, Rishabh and Pancham are completely omitted. Its jaati is audav-audav. Arohana : .ni. Sa ga Ma dhani *Sa* Avarohana : *Sa* nidha Ma ga Ma ga Sa OR *Sa* ni dha Ma ga Sa The 'Ga' used is actually Ga-Sadharan, 316 cent above Sa
The vadi swara is Madhyam while the Samavadi swara is Shadaj.
Pakad or Chalan
: ga ma dha ma ga ma ga sa
Other Characteristics
Malkauns is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave and in a slow tempo. Ornaments such as meend, gamak and andolan are used rather than 'lighter' ornaments such as murki and khatka. Komal Ni is generally considered the starting note, and the notes komal Ga and komal Dha are performed with vibrato. All five swaras can function as pausing notes. The komal Ni in Malkauns is different from the komal Ni in Bhimpalasi. The best time for this raga is late night. The effect of the raga is soothing and intoxicating.
'Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj', 'Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi', 'Chham Chham Ghunghroo Bole', 'Ankhiyan Sang Ankhiyaan Laagi Aaj', 'Balma Maane Na' and 'Rang raliyaan karat sautan sang', 'Gori tera gaon bada pyara', 'Ek Ladki Thi', 'Chalo Tumko Lekar Chale', are a few Hindi film compositions based on Malkauns. 'Rajasekhara' in the film 'Anarkali' in Tamil and Telugu is a composition based on this in South India. "Ohm Namashivaya" and "Margazhi Poove" songs in Tamil by Illayaraja and AR Rahman from Salangai Oli and May Madham respectively,""Neenu Neene" song from the movie Gadibidi Ganda, "Ra Ra" song in the movie Apthamitra in Kannada are also the best examples.
