A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music. A raga uses a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is constructed. However, the way the notes are approached and rendered in musical phrases and the mood they convey are more important in defining a raga than the notes themselves. In the Indian musical tradition, r?gas are associated with different times of the day, or with seasons. R?gin? (Devanagari: ??????) is a term for the 'feminine' counterpart or 'wife' to a r?ga. The r?ga-r?gini scheme dates from about the 14th century and aligns 6 'male' r?gas with 6 'wives'.