Kafi beginner Scale: D#

Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram — Harmonium Notes

Play Raghupati Raghav on harmonium. Gandhi's favorite bhajan.

How to Play Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram on Harmonium

Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram is one of the most recognized bhajans in India, forever linked with Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom movement. Learning the harmonium notes for this song connects you to a powerful piece of Indian history. Set your harmonium to D# and follow the sargam notation below to play Raghupati Raghav on harmonium.

Song Background

Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram originates from the longer hymn “Sri Rama Charita” composed by the poet Lakshmanacharyulu in the 17th century. However, the version we know today was popularized by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in the early 20th century. Mahatma Gandhi adopted this bhajan as a hymn for communal harmony during the Indian independence movement, and it was sung daily at his ashram prayer meetings. The lyrics praise Lord Rama while also carrying Gandhi’s message of religious unity with the line “Ishwar Allah Tero Naam” (God and Allah are your names). The melody is simple, march-like, and deeply stirring, making it a staple at Republic Day celebrations, school assemblies, and inter-faith gatherings. Many legendary artists have recorded it, from M.S. Subbulakshmi to Lata Mangeshkar.

Complete Sargam Notation

Here are the full harmonium notes in sargam notation for the main verses of Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.

SargamLyrics
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga ReRaghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga RePatit Paavan Sita Ram
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga ReSita Ram Sita Ram
Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga Re SaBhaj Pyare Tu Sita Ram
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga ReIshwar Allah Tero Naam
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga ReSab Ko Sanmati De Bhagwan
Ga Ma Pa Pa Ma Ga Re SaRaghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Re Ga Ma Ga Re Sa SaPatit Paavan Sita Ram

Raga Context

This bhajan is set in Raga Kafi, one of the most melodious ragas in Hindustani music. Kafi uses komal (flat) Ga and komal Ni while keeping all other notes natural, giving it a bittersweet, earthy quality. The raga is associated with the spring season and devotional longing. In this bhajan, the Kafi framework provides a warm, grounded feeling that supports the meditative march-like rhythm. The simplicity of the melodic movement — mostly ascending and descending in a straight line — makes it ideal for beginners who want to experience komal notes for the first time on the harmonium.

Step-by-Step Practice Guide

  1. Set your scale. Tune to D# or use web harmonium to find the key that suits your voice.
  2. Master the ascending phrase. The core movement is Sa Re Ga Ma Pa — practice playing this ascent cleanly with even pressure on each key.
  3. Add the descent. The second half of each line descends: Pa Pa Ma Ga Re. Focus on smooth transitions, especially from Pa to Ma.
  4. Practice the turnaround. Lines three and four begin from Ga rather than Sa, creating a subtle variation. Isolate this transition until it feels natural.
  5. Coordinate bellows with phrasing. Push the bellows outward on the ascending phrase and pull inward on the descent. This creates a natural breathing quality in the music.
  6. Sing along. This bhajan is meant for group singing. Once your fingers are confident, add your voice. Singing while playing builds coordination and deepens musical understanding.
  7. Increase tempo gradually. Start at 50 BPM and work toward the standard 80 BPM. The march-like quality of the song becomes apparent at the correct tempo.

Frequently Asked Questions

What scale should I use for Raghupati Raghav? D# is the standard scale for this bhajan, but you can transpose using the scale selector on web harmonium. The sargam notation and harmonium notes stay the same in any key.

Is Raghupati Raghav good for beginners? Yes. The melody is almost entirely a straight ascending and descending line, making it one of the easiest bhajans to learn. It is an excellent second or third song after mastering a simple aarti.

What other songs use Raga Kafi? Kafi is widely used in semi-classical and folk music. On this site, you can explore similar melodic moods in Vaishnav Jan To and Lag Jaa Gale.

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