Malkauns, the popular and ancient raga, is the expression of pathos through melody. Like every raga has a time or Prahar, it is a raga of night -- when the rarest and the most precious flowers blossom. It is thought to be the best time for any artistic persistence too. People sit for prayers to God and the nature gets leisure to continue her internal dialogues and to share her utmost feelings at that time. A person's solemnest prayer comes out as their heart opens with Malkauns, and they offer it to the ultimate or to the beloved.
The picturesque melody of Malkauns consents to the songs of nature. Its similar ragas are Kaunshi Kanada (Intermingling of Malkauns and Darbari Kanada) and Chandrakaus. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Ustad Amir Khan's rendition of Malkauns is pristine. The best rendition of Raga Malkauns I have so far heard was by Ustad Rashid Khan who performed the piece at The Daily Star-Standard Chartered Celebrating Life 2011 Gala and in the recently past Bengal Classical Music Festival 2013. A Mahol (ambience) was created through his styling several exclusive musical phrases at the two venues.
Among instruments, the sarod can best express the majestic style of the raga. Ustad Vilayat Khan and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan have embellished the recital of Malkauns to such heights that those have become their personal hallmarks. With his unparalleled recital of Malkauns on flute, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia embarks on a celebration of melancholy.
Tagore composed a timeless song “Anondo Dhara Bohichhey Bhuboney” set on the raga while Kazi Nazrul Islam tamed the melody of Malkauns through his composition, “Shonlo Bashite Dakey Amare Shyam”. Thumri's are not commonly set on Malkauns. Several ghazals -- “Tujhe Keya Khabar Mere Hum Safar” (Ghulam Ali) and “Bhul Shayed Bohot Bari Karli” (recorded by Chandan Das) are set on Malkauns. Legendary singer Manna Dey recorded the song “Radha Cholichhe Mukhti Ghuraye Kandey Shyam-ero Bashori” on the raga.
The raga is said to have evolved when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava dance. The raga thus evokes a feeling of vigour or we can say this grave natured Raga generates Veer Rasa. This raga is also said to have supernatural powers and can conjure spirits if rendered appropriately. Though a simple pentatonic raga in structure, it requires great skills to convey and evoke the mood of Malkauns.
A very famous composition based on this raga is the song “Maan Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj” from the film Baiju Baawra.
The name Malkauns (often pronounced Malkaunsh) is derived from the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears serpents like garlands -- the god Shiva. The raga is believed to have been created by goddess Parvati (the wife of Shiva) to calm Shiva, when the lord Shiva was outraged and was not calming down after Tandava in rage of Sati's sacrifice.
Malkauns is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave (mandra saptak) and in a slow tempo (vilambit laya). Profound ornamentations such as meend, gamak and andolan are used rather than lighter ornaments like murki and khatka.