1) Sankirna raga, also called Jod raga or Mishra raga, is a concept to
include two or more distinct ragas made into a single entity. Usually such a
Jod raga is composed of two ragas. However, in exceptional cases like Raga
Khat (original name is Raga Shat) – six ragas are combined together to be
rendered as one unit.
2) The composition of Sankirna (Jod) Raga can be done in 3 distinct ways.
a) Having one raga in the purvang and another one in uttarang.
b) One raga in arohi and another raga in avrohi
c) In this method the performer uses his musical artistry to play one raga
after the other in any part of the scale. This is done with great care to ensure,
that the rendering does not result into patch work but the product appears to be
a composite product with required musical value.
3) When you combine two ragas for e.g. Basant Bahar, Jayant Malhar etc.
a significant question arises, as to which raga amongst the two, should be given
greater prominence. Hence in a raga like Basant Bahar, many musicians
believe that raga Basant should be given greater prominence then the raga
Bahar. In practice (according to my experience), it is noted that by and large,
musicians apply this principle i.e. first name of Jod raga is given greater
importance.
4) Usually there is a common note in a Jod raga which could be treated as
a transit point for effortlessly moving from one raga to another. Shuddha
Madhyam evidently could be the transit point for sliding from Basant to Bahar
or vis-à-vis.
5) Bandishes or compositions covering Sankirna Ragas require special
ability of the musician as a highly competent composer. He / she should ensure
that salient points of both (or more) ragas are duly covered in the structure of
the Bandish – not an easy task. It is evident that composers and performers
(as noted earlier) should have sufficient knowledge of intricacies of both (all)
ragas involved.
6) There is a concept of Ragang Raga. It is believed that certain ragas are
amenable more easily to be combined with another raga to make a musical
entity. Ragas like Bahar, Malhar etc. are examples.
Important
7) Sankirna, Jod or Mishra ragas should not be mixed up with the concept
Prakars of Ragas. For e.g. Raga Bhairav, Todi, Malhar, Sarang, Kanara etc.
each of them having several prakars. This is a distinct section of Raga
classification.