Raga Bhairav

Raga Bhairav is a khayal performance recorded by Hindustani classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan for his 2000 studio album The Song of Shiva. Released on January 1, 2000 by Navras Records, the album appeared in compact disc format as part of the label’s classical music catalog. The track occupies the second position on the release and spans 11 minutes and 33 seconds.

Khan renders the raga in the traditional Bhairav thaat, adhering to the early morning raga’s structural and emotional conventions. The composition opens with an alaap that explores the raga’s komal re and komal dha swaras, followed by a vilambit section in Ektal (12-beat cycle) and a drut segment in Teental (16-beat cycle). Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though the recording aligns with Khan’s characteristic use of tanpura drone and tabla percussion in live and studio settings.

The album The Song of Shiva compiles Khan’s interpretations of ragas associated with devotional themes, with Raga Bhairav serving as a centerpiece. Navras Records marketed the CD to audiences of North Indian classical music, emphasizing Khan’s lineage under the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana. No alternate versions or live renditions of this specific studio recording have been verified in public archives.

Critical reception of the track and album is not extensively archived, though Khan’s broader discography from this period reflects his role in preserving and disseminating the khayal tradition. The 2000 release predates his later collaborations with international labels but follows his early career recognition, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1994.