Therapeutic Evaluation of the Classical Ragas

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Therapeutic Evaluation of the Classical Ragas

Singing or engrossed listening of Raga Bhairavi has been found to uproot the diseases of kapha dosha e.g. asthma, chronic cold, cough, tuberculosis, some of the sinus and chest related problems etc. Raga Asavari is effective in
eliminating the impurities of blood and related diseases. Raga Malhar pacifies anger, excessive mental excitements and mental instability. Raga Saurat and raga Jaijaivanti have also been found effective in curing mental disorders and calming the mind. Raga Hindola helps sharpening the memory and focussing mental concentration. It has been proved effective in curing liver ailments.

Apart from the classical ragas played on musical instruments, the rhythmic sounds of temple bells and shankha (conch shell or bugle) produced during devotional practices have also been found to have therapeutic applications.

A research study in Berlin University showed that the vibrations of the bugle sound could destroy bacteria and germs in the surroundings. More specifically, it was found that if the shankha is played by infusing (through the mouth) twenty-seven cubic feet of air per second, within a few minutes it will kill the bacteria in the surrounding area of twenty-two hundred square feet and inactivate those in about four-hundred square feet area further beyond.

Dr. D. Brine of Chicago had treated hundreds of cases of hearing impairments/ deficiencies by making the patients play or listen to the sounds of shankha played rhythmically at appropriate (as per the case) pitch and intensity.

MUSIC THERAPY – ” For – Brain, Body & Soul “

The entire concept of Music Therapy is experimental.  For me it is a kind of YOGA,which acts upon the human organism and awakens and develops their proper functions to extent of self-realisation.

Music therapy is a scientific method of effective cures of disease through the power of music. It restores, maintains and improves emotional, physiological and psychological well being. The articulation, pitch, tone and specific arrangement of swaras (notes) in a particular raga stimulates, alleviates and cures various ailments inducing electro magnetic change in the body.

 Music is basically a sound or nada generating particular vibrations which moves through the medium of ether present in the atmosphere and affects the human body. Music beats have a very close relationship with heart beats. Music having 70-75 beats per minute equivalent to the normal heart beat of 72 has a very soothing effect. Likewise rhythms which are slower than 72 beats per minute create a positive suspense on the mind and body. Rhythms which are faster than the heart rate excite and rejuvenate the body.

History Says:

The history of Carnatic music says that the system of Mayamalava Gowlai was introduced by the blessed musician, Purandaradasar. This raga has the potency to neutralise the toxins in our body. Practising this raga in the early hours of the morning, in the midst of nature, will enhance the strength of the vocal chords.

In India, saint musician Thyagaraja is said to have brought a dead person back to life with Bilahari raaga, and Muthuswamy Dikshitar cured stomach aches with his Navagraha Kritis. In our own times Pt Omkarnath Thakur is said to have cured Mussolini of his insomnia with a song.

Kollegal.R.Subramaniam , a great musician wrote , “According to the Sangita Sastra, the 72 Melakarta Ragas control the 72 important nerves. If one sings with devotion adhering to lakshana and sruti sudhi, the Raga Devatas shower blessings, injecting the particular nerve in the human body which shall give needed relief in due course”. By singing the 72 Melakarta ragas, stomach operation can be avoided and ailment cured.

Research

Research  has shown us that music does have  healing effects .They stimulate the brain, ease tension and remove fatigue. The effect of Music Therapy may be immediate or slow, depending upon number of factors like the subject, his mental condition , environment and the type of Music, selected for having the desired effect. Music Therapy largely depends on individual needs and taste.  Before using music as Therapy it must be ascertained which type of music is to be used. The concept of Music Therapy is dependent on correct intonation and right use of the basic elements of music. Such as notes [swara] rhytym, volume ,beats, and piece of melody. There are countless ‘Ragas’ of course with countless characteristic peculiarities of their own. . That is why we can not establish a particular Rag for a particular disease . Different types of Ragas are applied in each different case .

What is the effect of music on Brain waves?

Music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm and meditative state.The changes in the brain waves brings about changes in other bodily functions as well. Breathing and heart rate can be altered by music. That may be one of the reasons why listening to music promotes relaxation and prevents the effects of chronic stress.

The photo shown below was taken on 25th Aug.2005. The  quartet of one- and two-day-old babies listen to classical music as part of an experimental program. Doctors at Kosice-Saca Hospital, the first private hospital in Slovakia, believe that music therapy helps newborns reduce stress and stay healthy. Shortly after birth, infants receive five 20-minute music sessions each day. Doctors found that while the tikes are tuned in, most of them fall asleep or lie quietly.

Effect of Music Therapy on Cancer Patients

It is  my deep ambition to develop music for use in  the Pain and Palliative Wards  to get  relief from PAIN . Experts say ” music reduces pain”, and  this is  a proven statement as Music  cause the body to release endorphins (hormones that counteract pain).

A Music Therapy program has the potential to improve a cancer patient’s physical and emotional well-being by providing a distraction during treatment, thus decreasing stress, pain, and anxiety levels. Eighty percent (80%) of cancer patients will sense their stress, pain, and anxiety levels decreased because they participated in Music Therapy.

Learning Music at a young age

Music is basically a sound or nada generating particular vibrations which moves through the medium of ether present in the atmosphere and affects the human system. So music is a power or universal energy in the form of ragas. Enhanced vibration of seven major chakras keeps the mind and body in good health. It increases concentration, memory, makes the mind disciplined and spiritual. Music can be a cure if the singer/listener choses the raga based on which chakras he wants to concentrate on. Hence while singing/listening, based on the dominant swaras in that raga, the corresponding chakras vibrate more. The singer/listener should concentrate on the chakra while singing/listening. Teaching music at the tender age has several advantages. The child is born with all the chakras. But it is the Mooladhara chakra, which starts functioning even at birth. As the child grows, the other 6 chakras start functioning one by one from Mooladhara to Sahasrara chakra and by 21 years, the development process is complete. So teaching music at a young age purifies the body, mind and soul and lays the foundation for a healthy future. Academic brilliance and morality are automatically inculcated in such children. To make our children lead a healthy life, teach them music at a tender age and make it part of curriculum. Music is also one form of meditation, which enhances the power of chakras by raising Kundalini shakthi.

Symphonies of raga have a definite soothing effect on the mind as well as on the body. Repeated listening to the particular raga being chosen for a particular disease produces a network of sound vibration. Energy from URF (universal energy field) to HEF(human energy field) transmitted by the strokes of the different tones of raga affects the CNS (Central nervous system) because the roots of the auditory nerves are more widely distributed and have more connections than any other nerves in the body.

Sapthaswaras and Saptha Chakras

The ascending and descending order in which the swaras is sung is called arohanam and avarohanam. “Sa” shadjam is the basic note of all ragas. It is not only the inter relationship between the notes that define a raga  but also the relationship of these notes to the basic note (aadhara shadjam).  A noteworthy feature is, even though the raga is built on the basis of a sequence of swaras, the drone of the tambura will be spelling out the aadhara shadja all the time, loud and clear so that the reliance is constantly maintained. So there cannot be a raga without the aadhara shadja. So this shadjam increases the vibration of the mooladhara chakra which is for survival. Kundalini shakthi – shakhti in coiled form exists at the tip of the backbone. Increased vibrations of Mooladhara chakra by repeating Shadjam raises kundalini shakthi. Once Kundalini shakthi is awakened, the energy starts moving through shushumna nadi (spinal cord) towards the sahasrara chakra where Lord Shiva resides.  For smooth passage of the shakthi, each note is sung in ascending order (as in arohanam). Then ‘Sa’ raises kundalini shakthi at mooladara chakra , Ri – back swadhishtana chakra , Ga – back manipura chakra, Ma- back anahatha chakra, Pa – back vishudhi chakra, Dha – back ajna chakra,  Ni – sahasrara chakra, Sa – cosmos.  Now Avarohanam, notes sung in descending order connects cosmos and reinforces lord shiva’s shakthi at the sahasrara chakra and the combined shiva shakti circulates through front chakras increases the divine power in corresponding chakras ie..Sa- Cosmos, Ni – sahasrara chakra, Dha- Ajna chakra, Pa – Vishudhi chakra, Ma-Anahatha chakra, Ga- manipura chakra, Ri –swadhishtana chakra, Sa – Mooladhara chakra and Ni- Mother earth. This swara garland by singing makes the body receive the energy from mother earth (ni lower octave) and Cosmos,( sa at upper octave). While sitting on the ground, energy from the mother earth reaches the mooladhara chakra increasing its vibration, which is solely for the survival.

Within the set of swaras, some play a major role and some less. There are some swaras which dominate and stay persistently -nyasa swaras. There are some ragas which have a special impact if they are initiated at a certain specific swaras. For instanse, a raga like Atana generally commences at the higher octave with the combination of the swaras – sa ri sa ni sa dha dha; or raga like anandhabhairaviin the middle octave with the swaras pa dha pa ma dha pa ma pa ma ga ri ga. or ritigowla with ni dha ma ga ri ga. Jiva swaras which lends life should be highlighted. They are the dhivata in Atana, antara gandhara in kalyani, madhyama and gandhara in hindola.

#1-How Music Helps ?

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on body and mind

Brain waves: Music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm and meditative state.

Breathing and heart rate: The changes in the brain waves brings about changes in other bodily functions as well. Breathing and heart rate can be altered by music. That may be one of the reasons why listening to music promotes relaxation and prevents the effects of chronic stress.

State of mind: Music is very much useful in warding off depression and anxiety. Thus, music promotes emotional well being and in maintaining positive mental health.

Is there any particular raga which has brought down the illness of a particular patient to a remarkable level? The answer is YES.

Hypertension
Yes. Anandabhairavi raga is said to be proved to bring down the BP level.

The real life demonstration was done by the Late Great Violin Mastreo Sri. Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. He was once preparing to show the remedial power of Ananda Bhairavi. The great poet Kannadasan had challenged in public to test his blood pressure after hearing Ananda Bhairavi from the great musician’s violin. But Kannadasan who promised to preside over a function became ill with hypertension. Cajoled by the organisers he reluctantly came  to the function and  requested Sri. Kunnakudi Vaidynathan to render any raga, which could soothe him. The great musician played Ananda Bhairavi elaborately. At the close of the concert, Kannadasan came up to the dais and announced that he was feeling much better. Ananda Bhairavi has such soothing effect.

Mental Illness

 The power of Sankarabaranam is incredible. It cures mental illness, soothes the turbulent mind and restores peace and harmony. Sankarabaranam, if rendered with total devotion for a stipulated period, can cure mental disorders said to be beyond the scope of medical treatment. Similarly DarbariKanada and Mohanam also helps to soothe turbulent mind and migraine headaches.

Diabetes

Activation Of The Manipooraka Chakra To Stimulate Secretion Of Insulin Raga Bageshree, Chandrakauns.

There is a growing awareness that ragas could be a safe alternative for many medical interventions. Music improves the immunity of the body. It has been observed that medical treatment with Music Therapy has reduced the intake of antibiotics and pain killers over a period of time.  Simple iterative musical rhythms with low pitched swaras, as in bhajans and kirtans are the time-tested sedatives.

Music will help improving human SOUL for collaborative learning for total life. SOUL will be grown by See, Observe, Understand, and Learn from human nature including sound with sense. It is necessary that a group of exponents in Indian ragas join experts in medical field to help evolving a scientific system of raga therapy for the most common illness of the modern times: Stress and Stress-Related Disorders and Cancer.

Courtesy-Internet.