- Life notes / jeeva
- Nishada (N2, kaisiki) is an important jeeva swara, rendered with varying degrees of gamaka; gandhara (G2) and the two dhaivatas (D2/D1) are the notes whose gamaka handling gives the raga its flavour.
- Resting notes / nyasa
- Panchama (P) is the purna (full) nyasa swara, on which one may sustain at length; chatusruti dhaivata (D2) is an alpa (minor) nyasa used to conclude phrases without stress, e.g. tara-sthayi S n d and R S n d.
- Signature phrases / prayoga
- Distinguished from allied Mukhari by ascending P D2 N2 S and S G2 R2 G2 M1. In ascent G2 is held with R2 and oscillated (S G R G M); in descent M P G R, and the phrase P D N D P takes shuddha dhaivata D1. Arohana uses chatusruti dhaivata D2; avarohana uses shuddha dhaivata D1.
- Ornament / gamaka
- Deft use of gamakas on G2, N2, D2 and D1 gives the raga its flavour; the gamaka on G ends in R, and in descent G2 slides from M1 and oscillates. Gandhara is rendered with a slow, deliberate kampita essential to Bhairavi's identity, and kampita is also applied to dhaivata.