Malkauns, known also as rag Malkosh,^[1] is a raga in Indian classical music. It is one of the oldest ragas of Indian classical music.^[2] The equivalent raga in Carnatic music is called Hindolam, not to be confused with the Hindustani Hindol.

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Malkauns

Thaat	Bhairavi
Type	Audava
Time of day	Late night, 12–3
Arohana	Ṉ̣ S G̱ M Ḏ Ṉ Ṡ
Avarohana	S Ṉ Ḏ M G̱ M G̱ S S Ṉ Ḏ M G̱ S
Synonym	Malkosh Malkaush
Equivalent	Hindolam

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According to Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, Malkauns is a raga that is "sung during small hours of the morning, just after midnight." He further adds that the raga has a soothing and intoxicating effect.^[3]

The name Malkaush is derived from the combination of Mal and Kaushik, which means he who wears serpents like garlands – the god Shiva. However, the Malav-Kaushik mentioned in classical texts does not appear to be the same as the Malkauns performed today.^[4] The raga is believed to have been created by goddess Parvati to calm lord Shiva, when he was outraged and refused to calm down after Tandav in rage of Sati's sacrifice.^[3]

In Jainism, it is also stated that the Raga Malkauns is used by the Tirthankaras with the Ardhamāgadhi Language when they are giving Deshna (Lectures) in the Samavasarana.

Malkaush belongs to Shaivait musical school; in fact most pentatonic ragas belong to Shaivait musical school.^[2]

Malkauns belongs to the Bhairavi thaat. Its notes are Sa, komal Ga, shuddh Ma, komal Dha, and komal Ni. In Western classical notation, its notes can be denoted as: tonic, minor third, perfect fourth, minor sixth and minor seventh. In raga Malkauns, Rishabh (Re – second) and Pancham (Pa – perfect fifth) are completely omitted. Its jaati is audav-audav (five-five, that is, pentatonic).^[5]

Arohana : Ṉ̣ S G̱ M Ḏ Ṉ Ṡ

Avarohana :

The 'Ga' used is actually Ga-Sadharan (the rough minor third), 316-cent above Sa.^[6] This corresponds to the note ga2, in the 22 shrutis list, with a factor of 6/5.

The vadi swara is Madhyam (Ma) while the Samavadi swara is Shadaj (Sa).

Pakad : G̱ M Ḏ M G̱ M G̱ S

Malkauns is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave (mandra saptak) and in a slow tempo (vilambit laya). Ornaments such as meend, gamak and andolan are used rather than 'lighter' ornaments such as murki and khatka. Komal Ni is generally considered the starting note (graha swara), and the notes komal Ga and komal Dha are performed with vibrato (andolit). All five swaras can function as pausing notes.

The komal Ni in Malkauns is different from the komal Ni in Bhimpalasi.

The best time for this raga is late night. The effect of the raga is soothing and intoxicating.

The unique musical structure of Malkauns has given rise to many variations, creating what may be called a 'Kauns' family of related ragas.

• Chandrakauns
• Bageshri-Ang Chandrakauns
• Nandkauns
• Sampoorna Malkauns
• Pancham Malkauns
• Gunkauns
• Madhukauns
• Jogkauns
• Nirmalkauns
• Tulsikauns

'Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj' (film Baiju Bawra, performed by Mohammad Rafi), 'Aadha Hai Chandrama Raat Aadhi' (film Navrang, performed by Mahendra Kapoor and Asha Bhosle), 'Chham Chham Ghunghroo Bole' (film Kaajal, performed by Asha Bhosle), 'Ankhiyan Sang Ankhiyaan Laagi Aaj' (film Bada Aadmi), 'Balma Maane Na' (film Opera House) and 'Rang raliyaan karat sautan sang' (film Birbal My Brother), 'Ek Ladki Thi' (film Love You Hamesha, performed by Kavita Krishnamurti) are a few Hindi film compositions based on Malkauns. 'Rajasekhara' in the film 'Anarkali' in Tamil and Telugu is a composition based on this in South India. "Ohm Namashivaya" and "Margazhi Poove" songs in Tamil by Ilaiyaraaja and AR Rahman from Salangai Oli and May Madham respectively,""Neenu Neene" song from the movie Gadibidi Ganda, "Ra Ra" song in the movie Apthamitra in Kannada are also the best examples.

Note that the following songs are composed in Hindolam, the equivalent of raga Malkauns in Carnatic music.

• Amir Khan, Ragas Hansadhwani and Malkauns, HMV LP (long-playing record), EMI-EASD1357
• Mekaal Hasan Band's Maalkauns from the album Andholan is also based on this.
• Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan presented it in a popular bandish "Aaj more Ghar aaye na Balma^[8]"