Today's piece by Charulata Mani in the Hindu, A Raga's Journey- Maand beautifully describes this tantalising movement of a raga. I imagine it must have been inspired in a musician's mind as he was riding a camel in the deserts of Rajasthan. This same musician landed up in the Carnatic and gave the raga Maand to us delighted listeners.
Talking of a camel ride, there cannot be anything more unimaginable. But you can get some inkling when you listen to Maand.This raga's movement, or chalan as they say in HIndustani, is like the locus of a Rajasthani turban as it rides a camel. An elliptical translatory meandering to match the camel's wandering as it seeks a chew of cactus stubble in the sands.
Listen to this piece, to understand it better. Just as a final confirmation that the camel ascended into the royal durbar, this piece is a Sanskrit composition by Mysore Vasudevachar!
I also give you the You Tube Clip of the song Orunal Poduma by Balamuralikrishna:
