Most ancient human societies across the world had recognised the power of sound vibrations as they affect the mind and the moods. The great system of Nada Yoga, once popular in India, works on the premise that the entire universe around us and we ourselves are made of nada, the sound vibrations. In other words, it is the movement of sound energy that forms a building block of the universe and not. matter. This realisation in India had ushered in the concept of nada being worshipped as Brahman.
Inner and Outer Music
Nada Yoga divides music into two categories: inner music or anahata and outer music or ahata. While outer music is heard through the sense organs, that is, ears, inner music is heard through the subtle heart chakra, also known as anahata chakra, which is not a sensory organ.
Totally Personal
As it implies, anahata refers to one’s own sound vibrations, so close to one’s own self that anyone else cannot simply share it. It is totally personal and private—exclusive to its `possessor’ alone. One can, however, listen to one’s anahata and make use of it, provided one develops certain basic interest, commitment, will and patience.
The system of Nada Yoga not only assures to the practitioner of inner music the resultant harmony and relaxation, but also promises self-realisation, which is often the singular goal for those who undertake meditation.
How to Search For One’s Own Music Within?
How can one search out one’s own music within his or her constitution? A debutante could just select a place where he would be least disturbed, sit comfortably with the spine erect and start breathing in and out slowly. Slow and deep breathing is essential, easy he has to focus hiss-mind the way his system gets oxygenated–to start with.
After a few breathing rounds, he would focus his awareness on the sound that naturally emanates when he breathes out. He should avoid making any guttural noise on his own and give his total attention to the natural vibrations that emanate when the breath is leaving his system. Initially, he can hold his concentration for two or three minutes and over a period–say one month–he should be able to focus his concentration for at least five minutes at a stretch.
Relieves Tension
Those who have tried this would endorse that observing anahata and concentrating on it relieves tension from the mind and it is often recommended as a good remedy, especially for trauma victims. Such practices can also help in mind-control, which results in expansion of one’s consciousness resulting in self-realisation.
Outer Music
Unlike anahata music, outer music is not esoteric. Unless one’s hearing is impaired, anybody can listen to or appreciate outer music.
Outer music–or music as we generally understand–with its infinite varieties affects our moods and minds in various ways. It draws our attention, affects our temperament and behaviour, too! While agitating us or relaxing, it affects us in myriad ways. When one feels down and out, it is the music that could inject hope or sunshine. This makes Friedrich Nietzche remark: “Without music, the life would be a mistake!”
Archaic Instruments
The Indian musical tradition is age-old. It has derived its base from pre-Aryan or pre-Vedic sources consisting of nature worshippers. The pre-Aryan deity, Rudra (who is also referred to in the Vedas), is a phenomenon of destruction, who later came to be equated with Siva. Siva, the destroyer, is associated with the powerful nada of damru, a hand-held, hourglass shaped instrument with both sides sealed by skin on which a hanging cotton thread is made to strike.
The noise produced by this insignificant instrument is considered inauspicious. Tantrists and those associated with the cult of Siva, however, consider this instrument auspicious.
Similar primordial sound also emanates from the conch-shell, Shankhu, which is associated with Vishnu, the Preserver. The vibrations that emanate from this instrument are considered healthy, positive and auspicious, and hence used as an accompaniment to puja. The tremendous vibrations that emanate from this instrument are said to keep those who practise meditation from falling asleep.
Music as well as Yoga
Among the Hindu trinity, Brahma is the creator. His consort, Sarasvati, is associated with veena, the powerful chordophone whose vibrations are said to affect the subtle chakras in the human body. In fact, the very shape of veena is designed after the vertebral column, which is considered as a musical octave.
The seven swaras or notes represent seven chakras situated here. By playing these notes simultaneously, visualising their impact on the chakras, the sadhaka is believed to effortlessly wander through seven levels of consciousness as represented by each chakra. As the ascendants and descendants in chakras are equated with aroha and avaroha in the musical octave, one practises not only music but also yoga with the help of the veena.
Meditative Music
Meditative music does not require elaborate orchestration or voice-culture as practised in the West. Simple sounds, which are nearer to nature and its elements (for example, wind, fire, water, earth and ether), are found to be the most efficacious in uplifting one’s level of consciousness to greater heights.
`Sticky'” Tunes
The ‘sticky’ tunes as found in the bhajans and kirtans, thanks to their almost endless repetition of melodies as in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Govind Bolo Gopal Bolo, Buddham Sharanam Gachchami, have been a welcome asset for enhancing meditation. Prof. James Callaris of the University of Cincinnati, after questioning 1,000 people about tunes that they cannot get out of their heads, observed that a combination of simplicity, repetition and adrenaline-inducing jaggedness can turn an otherwise ordinary sequence of notes into something unforgettable.
The ‘Cognitive’ Itch
According to him, these elements produce a sort of ‘mental mosquito bites,’ creating a cognitive `itch’ that can be scratched only by playing a tune again and again. Melodic, lyrically simple, repetitive and with a slow gait, these tunes can over a time bring about changes in the brain wave pattern converting beta waves (which govern our alert mental status) to alpha and theta levels. This change is believed to be an ideal state for meditation and relaxation and it is in this state that our creative and intuitive potentials come to their peak levels.
For John Durrant, a clinical psychologist, there was a medical distinction between sticky tunes and more complex compositions. Brain mapping has shown that fewer synaptic links are required for a nursery rhyme, such as Three Blind Mice, than a dense Strauss opera, which is why when requiring musical feed, the brain will often take a shortcut.
Western Classicals, too
When we made a point that simple and monophonous voices or tunes are enough for meditation, it cannot be construed that we are undermining the great strides made in the Western classical system. Bach, for instance, had made wonderful attempts in counterpoints, which is a unique contribution of the West to the world of music. By overlapping melodies as in his fugues, Bach had mastered the art of arming the minds of his listeners.
In fact, all the great symphonies address the mind and thus can be used as a tool in mind-control programmes along with the eastern bhakti music.
East or West, music is the best! Best for transporting one to greater heights! For better understanding of one’s own self.
This article is published in Tattvaloka – August 2005 – Pages 32 to 34
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, April 7, 2021