Naad Tattva: Bharat's rich Shastriya Sangeet (music)

Introduction

Sangeet or 'music' in ancient India was a medium of expression, feelings, human pleasures, and problems. It is itself a language that speaks a million tunes yet it speaks the language of human life. Sangeet in Bhartiya culture holds a topmost position because it transfers people to a new journey in the minds. Sangeet is considered to be sacred and sound that reaches within ourselves.

in every element of this universe, Shakti is present. This shakti is present in naad that transfers from one medium to another. Sangeet has originated from NAAD Tattva. Shiva was the first person in the universe to introduce the world 'Shastriya Sangeet'.

He taught the world that Yoga and Sangeet can go hand in hand to energize the unexplored energies of within. Yoga has been an important practice in Bharatiya sabhyata. Sangeet and yoga are two different paths that converge into 'Adhyatma' (spirituality). This basic fact is well recognized not just India but internationally. Yoga is a large topic but a sukshma (small).

Our body is created by the matter. For this reason, anything that we consume stirs and triggers emotions, chemicals, vibrations, etc. As Maharishi Patanjali rightly had said, "योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः" (yoga Chita nirodhah) meaning: Yoga is stilling the fluctuations of the mind.

Yog sadhana makes us stable, thoughtful, skillful, virtuous and connects us to the adhyatma.

Both Yoga and Sangeet are important for adhyatmic evolution. Each of these two contains knowledge and Vigyaan (science). Today let's see why Sangeet is important for our sabhyata (culture).

Sangeet for healing

It is a well-recognized fact that shastriya sangeet helps in healing trauma afflicted people. This research was done at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Previously, the Indians had claimed the same and for millennia this music has helped people in many ways. A normal person with growing age suffers a lot due to the pressure from peers and family. This causes turbulence in the brain. Have you felt that in your life when you are so angry just because of a thought that you turn violent? Probably, this violence might just be within the brain but it takes no time to come into the physical world.

We all know about Panchtattva or Mahabhuta (fire (Agni), air (Vayu). water (Jal), earth (dharti), and sky (Akash). All elements present in this world produce sound. In the sky, all elements are present. The music shifts our focus from negative things to positive things in life. But there is a huge difference between the music we listen widely today and the shastriya sangeet. Sangeet is a composition to reflect the satvikta. In the ancient Bharat, the administrators used to organize sangeet sammelan (music festival) to ease the tension their people face. "Tension and depression can hinder your work.

A. Rag Chikitsa

सा रे ग म प ध नी सा

sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa

These Sapta Tala (seven notes of sound) are used to compose music. They are classified as Ragam. Interestingly, Raga is derived from a Sanskrit word 'Rang". There is no accurate translation for this word. It could be translated as color, passion, tingeing. To give more effect through Raga, Rasa plays an important role. Rasa means 'taste' or 'essence'. The musician or sangeetkar uses different notes and emphasis it to create certain emotional effects.

Swara plays an important role to trigger emotions (Bhava). There are two types of awareness: Jiva Swara and Nyasa Swara. Jiva means 'life'.

"Two Jeeva Swara are, one primary and the other secondary; Vaadi Swara is the primary anchor, while Samvaadhi Swara is the secondary anchor." 1 (source).

Raga leaves an impression of different emotions through specific Rasa. In our music industries throughout the world, musicians use different tones to trigger specific emotions. For military effects, they use heavy percussion. For romantic scenes, they use melodies. Similarly, Shringar rasa invokes love and romance. In this Rasa, many Ragas are placed like Raga Bhairavi. Raag Sahana is a beautiful melody that invokes Shanti (peace) within.

Even if you are not a professional singer, you can still experience the essence of this article by saying (alap) 'Sa' on a specific note. Notice the travel path of the sound 'Sa'. It plays with our consciousness. By just one Alaap you will get some idea how this helps in chikitsa. Powerful music stirs the within and effects our personality, behavior, and at a certain limit thinking too. Many times you would notice that a person listening to aggressive songs becomes aggressive. Even thinking changes. Yet another person listening to satvik music remains calm. It doesn't happen in a day but certainly, sometime, it will start showing effects. Shastriye sangeet is already in use as therapy to change the brain and heart chemistry.

B. Naad Yoga

The source of the universe (Shiva) is constantly creating vibrations. For the human scale, it is too powerful. The universe itself is a sangeet on which all universes are moving in rhythm, motions, and making causes and effects. In the human body, three nadis go from top to bottom of the spinal cord: Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna. The rasa is used to create sublime vibrations inside to reach the subtle regions of the mind. Naad Yoga means 'union of sound' or 'flow of consciousness'. During our silent breathe in and breathe out, we create vibrations and resonance. In Naad Yoga, the silent vibrations of breathe and external sangeet are used for the successful experience.

This is a very similar concept to Japa Dhyana. Not totally but at a certain limit. Aum is the first sound of the universe which is called 'Bramhanad'. Prakriti is created by the divine energy which in turn creates sound. In chakra yoga, Bijamantra are used to balance and cure the unexplored chakras.

Conclusion

Sangeet is an essential part of our life. We create or disturb our surroundings with it. A person who wants to get out of stress and emotional turbulence, sangeet can be proven as a medium of cure. Many therapists use this technique to help patients getting out of insomnia and many more disorders. Our mind keeps consuming thoughts, touch, and even vibrations as food (ahaar). Thus, this kind of sangeet helps us living a satvik lifestyle. India has all the answers to unanswered questions. I think Indian tradition is much more needed today more than ever. Bharatiya culture is an intoxication of life.

At the end, I would like to share a Raag that is close to my heart. Raag Bhairavi: