A mudra (IAST: Mudrā; Sanskrit for sign or symbol) is a term woven into compositions in Indian classical music, particularly Carnatic music, that indicates the identity of the composer, a patron, the raga, tala, or style. A composer might use his own name or a pseudonym.[1] Not all composers have mudras, and they do not necessarily relate to the composer's name.[2][3]

Etymology

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A mudra is a pen name, nom de plume, or pseudonym adopted by a musician to serve as their sign of authorship in a musical composition. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise their gender, to distance an author from some or all of their previous works, to protect the author from retribution for their writings, to combine more than one author into a single author, or for any of a number of reasons related to the marketing or aesthetic presentation of the work. The author's name may be known only to the publisher, or may come to be common knowledge.

All most every time, the penname is inserted in the wordings of the composition or poem in a artistically meaningful way.

List of Mudras used by Musicians

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Hindustani Musicians

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Mudra (English) Mudra (Devanagari) Musician Translation Gharana Details
Adā-ranga अदारंग Firoz Khān of Delhi "Colors of Grace." Seniya

Qawwal Bacche || 18th-century dhrupadiya in Rangile's Court.[4]

Ashiq-rang आशिक रंग Mir Saleh "Colors of Lover Qawwal Bacche
Achpal अच्पल Sheikh Ajmal Khan Sahab Qawwal Bacche Bahadur Shah Zafar Teacher
Abhī-raṅga अभीरंग Abhijith Shenoy Kerki "Colors of fearlessness." Gwalior, Agra, Atrauli
Ālama आलम Ālamara Begum Khāsmahal
Ahmeda-piyā अहमदपिया Alladiya Khan "Lover of Ahmed." Jaipur-Atrauli
Akhtara-piyā अख़्तरपिया Wajid Ali Shah
Amara, Amara-piyā अमर, अमरपिया Aman Ali Khan Bhendi-Bazaar
Amaradāsa, Amara-piyā अमरदास, अमरपिया Navrang Nagpurkar Bhendi-Bazaar
Ānanda आनन्द Pralhad Ganu Agra, Atrauli
Ananga-raṅga अनंगरंग Acharya Brihaspati
Azīza-piyā अज़ीजपिया Mehboob Baksh Khan Agra
Bhāva-raṅga भावरंग Balwantrai Bhatt Gwalior
Bindā बिन्दा Bindadin Maharaj Lucknow
Chakra-piyā चक्रपिया Chakradhar Singh
Chānda-piyā चान्दपिया Chand Khan Delhi[5]
Chatura, Chatura Pandit चतुर, चतुरपण्डित Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande Rampur
Chita-Ānanda चित-आनन्द Chidanand Nagarkar "Elated consciousness." Agra[6]
Darasa-piyā दरसपिया Mehboob Khān of Agra Agra[7]
Darasa-piyā दरसपिया Shafi Ahmed Khān of Atrauli Atrauli[8]
Darpaṇa दर्पण Yunus Hussain Khan "Mirror." Agra, Atrauli
Deva-raṅga देवरंग Daibashish Gangopadhyay "Divine Colors." Musician, Composer, Music director
Dhyāna-raṅga-piyā ध्यानरंगपिया Mani Prasad Kirana
Dila-raṅga दिलरंग Azmat Hussain Khan "Colors of the Heart." Khurja, Atrauli
Dina-raṅga दिनरंग Dinkar Kaikini "Colors of the Day." Agra, Atrauli
Gaan-guni गान-गुणी B.Krishna Bhat Gwalior
Gauhara, Gauharapyari गौहर, गौहरप्यारी Gauhar Jaan
Guṇa-piyā गुणपिया Chhota Gandharva "Lover of Qualities."
Guṇa-raṅga गुणरंग[9] Fayyaz Ahmad Khan "Colors of Qualities." Kirana
Guṇi-dāsa गुणीदास Jagganathbuwa Purohit "Servant of Qualities." Agra, Atrauli
Guṇi-jāna गुणीजान CR Vyas Gwalior, Agra, Atrauli
Guṇiye गुणिये Vasantrao Kulkarni Gwalior, Agra, Atrauli
Guru-raṅga गुरुरंग[10] Vrajotsavji Maharaj][11]
Gyāna-raṅga ज्ञानरंग Aarshin Karande[12] Mewati
Govinda गोविंद Govindrao Dantale Mewati
Hara-raṅga हररंग Muhammad Ali Khan
Hara-raṅga हररंग Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande Rampur Musicologist.
Hari-priyā हरिप्रिया Harishchandra Bali Agra, Atrauli
Hinga-raṅga हिंगरंग Hussain Ali Khan[13] "Colors of Hinga." Kirana
Ināyata, Ināyata-piyā इनायत, इनायतपिया Inayat Hussain Khan "Lover of Inayat." Rampur-Sahaswan
Ibrāhīm-piyā इब्राहीमपिया Ibrahim Khan of Tonk Rampur-Sahaswan
Jasa जस Pandit Jasraj "Glory." Mewati
Jyōti-raṅga ज्योतिरंग Rajaram Shukla
Khush-rang खुशरंग Ustad Muzaffar Khan Sikanderabad Delhi Gharana
Khusha-raṅga ख़ुशरंग Aslam Hussain Khan Hapur, Khurja
Kharaharapriya-dāsa खरहरप्रियादास[14] Bholanath Bhatt Benares
Krishṇa-dāsa कृष्णदास Master Krishnarao Gwalior, Agra, Jaipur-Atrauli, Kirana
Lalana-piyā ललनपिया Nandalal Sharma
Lāla-raṅga लालरंग Chaman Lal Varma
Madhura-piyā मधुरपिया Gokulotsavji Maharaj
Magana मगन Chinmoy Lahiri Agra, Atrauli
Magana-piyā मगनपिया Mashiyat Khan Agra
Manahara मनहर Murli Manohar Shukla
Manahara-piyā मनहरपिया Abdullah Khan Agra, Atrauli
Manahara-piyā मनहरपिया Prem Prakash Johri
Mana-raṅga मनरंग Bhupat Khan Seniya
Mana-rang मनरंग Maste Khan

Sheikh Mazhar

Qawwal Bacche

Sikandrabad

Mana-raṅga मनरंग Mahawat Khan of Jaipur
Manapiya मनपिया Pamalka Karunanayake of Sri Lanka
Mita-raṅga मितरंग Deviprasad Kharwandikar[15] "Colors of Measure."
Mohana-piyā मोहनपिया Aqeel Ahmed Khan Agra
Nāda-piyā नादपिया V R Athavale "Lover of naad." Gwalior, Agra
Nāda-raṅga नादरंग Dilip Chandra Vedi "Colors of naad." Patiala, Agra, Atrauli
Nāda-raṅga नादरंग Sandeep Ranade "Colors of naad." Mewati
Nātha-piyā नाथपिया Vilayat Khan Etawah Sitarist. Enayet Khan's Rajput name was "Nath Singh."
Niguṇa निगुण Neelkanth Abhyankar Agra, Atrauli
Prāṇa-piyā प्राणपिया Vilayat Hussain Khan Agra, Atrauli[16]
Pranava-raṅga प्रणवरंग Omkarnath Thakur "Colors of Om." Gwalior
Prema-piyā प्रेमपिया Faiyaz Khan "Lover of Affect." Agra
Prema-dāsa प्रेमदास Latafat Hussain Khan "Servant of Affect." Agra, Atrauli
Prema-raṅga प्रेमरंग Sharafat Hussain Khan "Colors of Affect." Agra, Atrauli
Prema-raṅga प्रेमरंग Ratnakar Ramnathkar "Colors of Affect." Agra, Atrauli
Qadara-piyā क़दरपिया Mirza Bala Qadar of Rampur Thumri composer.[17]
Ratana-piyā रतनपिया Ata Hussain Khan Agra
Rāma-dāsa रामदास Zahoor Khan Khurja[18]
Rāma-raṅga रामरंग Ramashrey Jha
Raṅgile रंगीले Ramzan Khan Rangile[19] Sikandrabad Rangeela Gharana
Rasa-dāsa रसदास Arun Kashalkar Gwalior, Agra, Atrauli, Jaipur-Atrauli
Rasa-dāsī रसदासी Veen Vishwaroop Agra, Atrauli
Rasa-piyā रसपिया Babanrao Haldankar Agra, Atrauli, Jaipur-Atrauli
Rasa-raṅga रसरंग Bade Inayat Hussain Khan Gwalior
Rasa-raṅga रसरंग Anwar Hussain Khan Agra, Atrauli
Rasika-piyā रसिकपिया Dhruv Tara Joshi
Rasika-raṅga रसिकरंग Ashok Ranade Gwalior Musicologist[20]
Rasika-raṅga रसिकरंग Deepak Chatterjee
Razā-piyā रज़ापिया Raza Ali Khan Patiala Nawab.[21]
Saba-raṅga सबरंग Ghulam Abbas Khan Agra
Saba-raṅga सबरंग Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Patiala
Saba-rasa सबरस Ghulam Maulvi Khan Patiala
Shok-rang शोक रंग Bahadur Shah Zafar Last Mughal Emperor
Sadā-raṅga सदारंग Niyamat Khān of Delhi Seniya

Qawwal Bacche || Descendant of Tansen, dhrupadiya in Rangile's Court.[22]

Saguṇa-piyā सगुणपिया Yashpal Agra, Atrauli
Sajana-piyā सजनपिया Khadim Hussain Khan Agra, Atrauli
Samajh-Dil समझदिल Ustad Nazeer Ahmed Khan Qawwal Bacche, Delhi Gharana Nizam's Court Singer
Samajha-dila समझदिल Enayat Khan Etawah, Agra
Sanada-piyā सनदपिया Tawakkul Husain Khan of Rampur Jaipur Thumri composer.[23]
Sanehī-piyā सनेहीपिया Gulam Qadar Khan Agra
Sarasa-piyā सरसपिया Kale Khan Agra
Sarasa-raṅga सरसरंग Qayam Khan Agra
Shakīla-piyā शकीलपिया Nanhe Khan Agra
Shōk, Shōka-raṅga शोक, शोकरंग Kumar Gandharva Gwalior
Shōri, Shōri Miyān शोरी, शोरी मियाँ Miyan Ghulam Nabi Shori Lucknow
Shubha-raṅga शुभरंग Shubhada Paradkar
Shyāma-raṅga श्यामरंग Dayam Khan Agra
Shyāma-raṅga श्यामरंग Jitendra Abhisheki Atrauli, Khurja
Subha-raṅga सुभरंग Shankarlal Mishra
Sughara-piyā सुघरपिया Bhaiya Ganpatrao Gwalior
Sujana-dāsa सुजनदास Yashwant Mahale Agra, Atrauli
Sujanasuta सुजनसुत K. G. Ginde Agra, Atrauli
Sujāna सुजान Haji Sujan Khan Agra
Sujāna, Sujāna-piyā सुजान, सुजानपिया S. N. Ratanjankar Agra, Atrauli
Sura-raṅga सुररंग Amir Khan Indore, Kirana, Bhendi-Bazaar
Taan-Ras तनरास Ustad Taanras Khan Qawwal Bacche Delhi Gharana Founder Of Delhi Gharana Last Mughal Singer
Tana-raṅga तनरंग Vishwanath Rao Ringe Gwalior
Vyākul व्याकुल Vyakul of Ayodhya Guru of Ramashreya Jha[24]
Vedī वेदी Dilip Chandra Vedi "Colors of naad." Patiala, Agra, Atrauli
Vinōda-piyā विनोदपिया Tasadduq Hussain Khan Agra Son of Kallan Khan, Agra Gharana.[24]
Vraja-raṅga व्रजरंग [25] Vrajotsavji Maharaj[26]
Yasha-raṅga यशरंग Yeshwantbua Joshi Gwalior, Agra, Atrauli

Carnatic Musicians

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Name Mudra Notes
Tallapaka Annamayya Venkata
Vyasatirtha Sri Krishna/ Siri Krishna/Krishna
Vadiraja Tirtha Hayavadana
Sripadaraja Ranga Vitthala
Jagannatha Dasa Jagannatha Vitthala
Gopala Dasa Gopala Vithala
Vijaya Dasa Vijaya Vithala
Purandara Dasa Purandara Vitthala
Kanaka Dasa Adi Keshava
Tyagaraja Tyagaraja
Shyama Shastri Shyama Krishna[27]
Muthuswami Dikshitar Guruguha[2] Guha is one of the many names of Murugan, the deity at Tirutani, the site of his first composition.[28]
Swati Tirunal
  • Padmanabha
  • Pankajanabha
Bhadrachala Ramadas Ramadasu
Papanasam Sivan Ramadasan
Gopalakrishna Bharathi Balakrishnan, Gopalakrishnan
Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar Harikesha
Narayana Teertha Narayana Teertha
Patnam Subramania Iyer Venkateshwara
Mysore Vasudevacharya Vasudevā
Mysore V. Ramarathnam Rāma
M. D. Ramanathan Varada dasa
M. Balamuralikrishna
  • Hari
  • Murali
Maharajapuram Santhanam Maharajan
Koteeswara Iyer Kavi Kunjara dasa
Kshetrayya Muvva Gopala
Sadashiva Brahmendra swami Paramahamsa
Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Sri Vidya[29]

References

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  1. ^ Wade, Bonnie C. (1984). Khyal: Creativity Within North India's Classical Music Tradition. Cambridge University Press. p. 20.
  2. ^ a b Mudrā, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India. Oxford University Press. 2011. ISBN 9780195650983. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Royal Carpet: Glossary of Carnatic Terms M". karnatik.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Artist - Niyamat Khan 'Sadarang' (Vocal), Gharana - None". www.swarganga.org.
  5. ^ "Raga Shree: Close Encounters".
  6. ^ "Short Takes: Malkauns".
  7. ^ Bhattacharya, Ramprapanna (31 August 2018). "My Music Diary: Pen names of Great Composers of Hindustani Music".
  8. ^ "Down Memory Lane – Dilrang Academy".
  9. ^ Dhar, Sheila (2005). Raga'n Josh: Stories from a Musical Life. Permanent Black. p. 236. ISBN 9788178241173.
  10. ^ "|| VrajRang - Vrajotsavji ||". sites.google.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  11. ^ "|| VrajRang - Vrajotsavji || - Acharya Dr. Vrajotsavji". sites.google.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  12. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Bandish in Raag Jaiwanti Todi by Aarshin Karande "Gyaanrang". YouTube.
  13. ^ "The Bandish divide - Times of India". The Times of India.
  14. ^ "HM Ragamalika! - rasikas.org".
  15. ^ Kharwandikar, Deviprasad (2013). Mitarang. Bookmark Publications.
  16. ^ "The Kanada Constellation (Part 3/3)".
  17. ^ Music, Classical (15 July 2012). "Classical Music: Thumri".
  18. ^ "Two Variants of Bihag and Thirakhwa's Tabla Solo".
  19. ^ "Artist - Ramzan Khan 'Rangile' (Vocal), Gharana - Agra". www.swarganga.org.
  20. ^ "Artist - Ashok Da Ranade (Vocal), Gharana - Gwalior". www.swarganga.org.
  21. ^ Akademi, Sangeet Natak (2006). Sangeet Natak (Volume 40 ed.). Sangeet Natak Akademi. p. 21.
  22. ^ "Artist - Firoz Khan 'Adarang' (Vocal), Gharana - None". www.swarganga.org.
  23. ^ Kumar, Kuldeep (31 October 2013). "A maestro and a master". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  24. ^ a b "Bhimpalasi Inc".
  25. ^ "|| VrajRang - Vrajotsavji ||". sites.google.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  26. ^ "|| VrajRang - Vrajotsavji || - Acharya Dr. Vrajotsavji". sites.google.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  27. ^ Śyāma Śāstri, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India. Oxford University Press. 2011. ISBN 9780195650983. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  28. ^ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007). Historical dictionary of the Tamils. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 236. ISBN 9780810864450.
  29. ^ "Navarathri - Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Compositions - Dr. PPN". www.carnatica.net.