Evolution of new ragas

Theoretically, it is possible to have an infinite number of ragas from the available notes & their permutations & combinations. However only a few hundred are currently in circulation because of their tradition & familiarity to the listeners.

But after considerable experience with the existing material, new ragas can still be discovered, subject to stringent requirements. One such is Komal Bihag (discovered by the present writer). This word discovered is consciously used because nothing is new in art. (Michelangelo said he did not sculpt the image, but it was hidden there in the marble & he only removed the extra material hiding it.) It substitutes the Komal Rishabh for the Shuddha Risabh (already weakened by using only in the descent sparingly) in the parent Raga Bihag.

Also the beauty of Bihag is only in the "Uttaranga" (latter part) of the octave, which is undisturbed in this new version. Pakad (typical phrase) being PMGmGS.

So if this version is performed, the listener feels the familiarity of Bihag, along with the occasional piquancy of the Komal Rishabh, taken glidingly in the descent. Of course this has been developed only after considerable familiarity not only with Bihag, but also with related extant ragas like Maru Bihag, Hem Bihag etc.,