Official UPSC Format

Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music ?

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

The Indian classical music system contains equivalent scales between the North (Hindustani) and South (Carnatic). The Hindustani Raga Bilawal, which utilizes all natural (shuddha) notes, corresponds exactly to the fundamental Carnatic Melakarta raga known as Dheera Shankarabharanam.

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option D
Indian classical music comprises two distinct traditions—Hindustani (North) and Carnatic (South). Despite their stylistic differences, their foundational parent scales (the Thaat system in the North and the Melakarta system in the South) share exact structural equivalents based on their note arrangements.
  • Raga Bilawal (The Target): In Hindustani music, the Bilawal Thaat represents the most basic, foundational scale utilizing all natural (shuddha) notes. (This is structurally identical to the Western Major scale / Ionian mode).

  • Dheera Shankarabharanam (Correct Equivalent): In Carnatic music, this is the 29th Melakarta raga. It utilizes the exact same array of all natural (shuddha) notes, making it the perfect structural equivalent to Bilawal.

  • Nat Bhairavi: This corresponds to the Asavari Thaat in Hindustani music.

  • Kamavardhini: Also known as Pantuvarali, this corresponds to the Poorvi Thaat.

  • Hanumatodi: Commonly called Todi in the South, this actually corresponds to the Bhairavi Thaat in the North.
    • Conclusion: Dheera Shankarabharanam is the exact equivalent of Raga Bilawal.

    🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    This is a direct factual mapping question. The examiner provides other major Carnatic ragas (Nat Bhairavi, Kamavardhini) that have famous Hindustani equivalents (Asavari, Poorvi) to confuse candidates who haven't memorized the specific cross-system chart.

    Active Recall Flashcard

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    Which foundational Carnatic Melakarta raga is the exact equivalent of the Hindustani Raga Bilawal, utilizing all natural (shuddha) notes?

    Dheera Shankarabharanam.

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Dheera Shankarabharanam
    Is Equivalent To
    Raga Bilawal
    Raga Bilawal
    Belongs To
    Hindustani Music
    Dheera Shankarabharanam
    Belongs To
    Carnatic Music

    Logic Quest

    "Why do these two different musical systems have equivalent scales?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Structural Unification of Indian Classical Music through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable Art & Culture questions for your upcoming Prelims.