RAG...RAGA

The rag is the most important concept that any student of Indian music should understand.  The Hindi/Urdu word "rag" is derived from the Sanskrit "raga" which means "colour, or passion".  It is linked to the Sanskrit word "ranj" which means "to colour".  Therefore rag may be thought of as an acoustic method of colouring the mind of the listener with an emotion.  This is fine as a general concept but what is it musically?  It is not a tune, melody, scale, mode, or any concept for which an English word exists.  It is instead a combination of different characteristics.  It is these characteristics which define the rag.  Here are the characteristics.