A raga is a complex structure of musical melody used in the Indian classical music. It is a set of rules of how to build a melody which can ignite a certain mood in the reciter and listeners. The Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, is composed in and divided by 31 ragas.

The following ragas names have been used by the Sikh Gurus to compose their hymns:

Other six raga names mentioned/used in Guru Granth Sahib are:

• Asawari
• Lalit
• Hindol
• Vibas
• Kafi
• Bhopali

Note: Click the Links above (in blue) to view details of each Raag and the composers of Gurbani (hymns) in these ragas (provided by SearchGurbani portal)

Common Themes of Shabads placed under Raags of Guru Granth Sahib

1. Soohi – Being away from home. The soul being away from the House of Lord and the joy of meeting the true husband.
2. Bilaaval – beautification of soul, happiness.
3. Gaund – Separation, union, surprise.
4. Sri – Maya and detachment
5. Maajh – yearning to merge with Lord, giving up of negative values.
6. Gauri – Principles, serious, thoughtfulness, composed
7. Aasa – Hope
8. Gujri – Prayer (Pooja)
9. Devgandhari – Merging with spouse, self – realization
10. Bihaagra – Yearning due to separation of soul and happiness due to meeting the Lord.
11. Sorath – Merits of God
12. Dhanasari – Mixed theme
13. Jaitsree – Stability
14. Todi – Maya, separation
15. Bairagi – motivation to sing praises of Lord
16. Tilang – many words from the vocabulary of Islamic origins are used, sadness, beautification.
17. Raamkali – to give up the life of a wandering Jogi.
18. Nat Narayan – Joy of meeting the Lord
19. Maali Gaura – Happiness
20. Maaru – Bravery
21. Tukhari – Separation and union with Lord
22. Kedara – Love
23. Bhairav – Man’s state of hell
24. Basant – Happiness
25. Sarang – Thirst to meet God
26. Malaar – State of separated and united soul
27. Jaijawanti – Vairaag (Detachment)
28. Kalyaan – Bhakti (Prayer) Ras
29. Vadhans – Vairaag (Detachment)
30. Parbhati – Bhakti (Prayer)
31. Kaanra – Bhakti (Prayer)

Feelings communicated by the music of Raags

1. Soohi – joy and separation
2. Bilaaval – happiness
3. Gaund – strangeness, surprise, beauty
4. Sri – satisfaction and balance
5. Maajh – loss, beautification
6. Gauri – seriousness
7. Aasa – making effort
8. Gujri – satisfaction, softness of heart, sadness
9. Devgandhari – no specific feeling but the Raag has a softness
10. Bihaagra – beautification
11. Sorath – motivation
12. Dhanasari – inspiration, motivation
13. Jaitsree – softness, satisfaction, sadness
14. Todi – this being a flexible Raag it is apt for communicating many feelings
15. Bhairaagi – sadness, (Gurus have, however, used it for the message of Bhakti)
16. Tilang – this is a favourite Raag of Muslims. It denotes feeling of beautification and yearning.
17. Raamkali – calmness
18. Nat Narayan – happiness
19. Maali Gaura – happiness
20. Maaru – giving up of cowardice
21. Tukhari – beautification
22. Kedara – love and beautification
23. Bhairav – seriousness, brings stability of mind
24. Basant – happiness
25. Sarang – sadness
26. Malaar – separation
27. Jaijawanti – viraag
28. Kalyaan – Bhakti Ras
29. Vadhans – vairaag, loss (that is why Alahniya is sung in this Raag when someone passes away)
30. Parbhati – Bhakti and seriousness
31. Kaanra – Bhakti and seriousness

Excerpts taken from:
Guru Granth Sahib: An Advance Study
Dr Sukhbir Singh Kapoor
and other sources

 More information can be found on SikhiWiki and SearchGurbani