Raga Todi

 

Raga Todi

Miyan ki Todi often simply referred to as Todi or Darbari Todi is a Hindustani classical raga that gave its name to Todi thaat, one of the ten types of classical music. Its equivalent raga in Carnatic Music is Shubhapantuvarali. It gives rise to a number of Ragas like Miyan ki Todi, Bilaskhani Todi, Gujari Todi, Desi Todi, Hussaini Todi and Bahadur Todi.In Rag Todi compositions appear on a total of 8 pages from pages 711-719 of SGGS. Today it is head of Thata. It is considered one of the most important North Indian Ragas. It consists of both wisdom and humbleness. It is through these sentiments that the Raga takes a simple approach to explain things that we may be aware of, but fail to ponder upon. It draws the attention of a listener to contemplate these things and give an explanation with such conviction that we are compelled to agree. Its Aroha is Sa,Re, Ga, Ma’, Pa,Dha, Ni, Sa and Avroha is Sa, Ni, Dha, Pa, Ma’, Ga, Re, Sa, its Pakar is Dha, Ni,Sa,Re,Ga,Re,Sa,Ma’, Ga, Pa, Ma’, Ga, Re, Ga, Re, Sa. Its Vadi is Dha while its samvadi is Re. Some of the verses composed in this raga are as follows:

Guru Ram Das Ji

Without the Lord,my stays not:

but when through the Guru, I meet with my God, I am cast upon the Sea of Existence again.

My Mind craves for the Lord, and lo, I see Him with mine Eyes.

The Beneficent True Guru has embedded the Lord’s Name in my mind: for this is the path that led me on to Him.

Lo, I receive the loved Lord’s Name : the Name I receive through the Lord. And to my body and mind the Name tastes sweet; for on my Countenance and Forehead is writ the Glorious Destiny.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Forsaking the Lord one wastes one’s life away;

But how can he be deceived whose mainstay are You O’ Lord ! Pause

Without contemplating the Lord, one’s life is ever on fire, even though has long life like a serpent.

And even if he has dominion over the nine divisions of the earth, in the end he loses the Game.

But, he alone sings the Praise of the Lord, The Treasure of Virtues,on whom is His Grace.

He is ever at Peace, Blessed is his birth, and Nanak is ever sacrifice unto him.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

How shall I describe by Low nature?

I was involved with the flavours of gold and women, and recited not ever the Lord’s Praise.

I considered he False world to be True, and was lured away. And He, the Lord, who is Beneficent to the meek I Dwelt not; yea He, who keeps ever our company.

Night and Day I was enveloped by Maya, and my mind was cleansed not of its scum.

Says Nanak, “ I am saved not, if I I not the Refuge of the Lord.

Bhagat Namdev Ji

Some say the Lord is near, others that He is far. But how can a fish of the water climb a tree.

O’ men why you shout so much about your Loved Lord ?

For, he who attains to His Love, does not confide the secret of his love to another.

Becoming a Pandit, one discourses on the Vedas:

But I Namdeva, the Ignorant one know naught else but my Lord, the God.