****ANCIENT INDIAN MUSIC THERAPY BY RAAGAS OF SAMAVEDA****
Hindu philosophy gives us an insight into the “feeling” nature of music and how deeply the human spirit affects and is affected by the outcome of a performance. Shyamali Sharma, a performing sitar artist and music therapist of many years says, “I can certainly attest to the fact that your personal feelings are projected on the audience tremendously, so much so that if you are upset, you should not play because everyone listening to your performance will be affected by your emotion. If you are overwhelmed with happiness, so will they be.”
There are 72 raagas, which are known as the Melakarta ragas (Parant raagas) from which other ragas known as the Janya ragas are obtained. Neural research proves that the 72 raagas can control 72 nerves in the human body. Singing or performing a Raga, when bound to its specifications (lakshanas) and with purity in pitch (swara shuddi) gives the performer complete control on the corresponding nerve. Ragas Ahirbhairav and Todi are prescribed for patients suffering from hypertension. Carnatic ragas like Punnagavarali and Sahana are useful to calm the mind and control anger.
Ragas used in Music Therapy
Raga Treatment
Todi, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav--Provides relief from cold andheadache,
high blood pressure
Shivaranjani -- Treats memory problems
Bhairavi -- Provides relief from Sinus, cold,
phlegm, toothache
Chandrakauns --Treatment of heart ailments and
diabetes
Darbari Kanara --Eases tension and provides relaxation
Bihag and Bahar --For sound, sonorous sleep
Darbari --Relief from tension
Malkauns, Asavari --Cures low blood pressure
Tilak-kamod, Hansdhwani,
Kalavati, Durga --Easing tension
Hindustani and Carnatic classical musical considers a Raga as depicting a specific mood. An appropriate mood has to be evoked in the listener’s mind before initiating musical treatment. For example, Kafi Raga evokes a humid, cool, soothing and deep mood while Raga Pooriya Dhanasri evokes sweet, deep, heavy, cloudy and stable state of mind. Raga Mishra Mand has a very pleasing, refreshing, light and sweet touch while Bageshwari arouses a feeling of stability, depth and calmness.
Ragas do heal when rendered properly, at the right pitch (saptak), with the true vaadis (a note that is most frequently used in a raga, such as ‘ga’ in raga Yaman) and samvaadis (a note that supports the vaadi, viz. ‘ni’ in raga Yaman) brought forth, and at the correct prahar (time). Even a single swar/note has immense strength. Stuti, a sitar player in the US is suffering from a heart condition. She says, “I mainly use my sitar for meditation as I find the sound of the instrument bringing healing to me. I take the sitar to parks and beaches out in hot or cold weather as I need the serenity of its sound because of my heart condition.”
Another musician of the Jaipur gharana who recently bought a rudra veena writes, “I myself have noticed great cardiac as well as psychological benefits from playing my recently purchased Indian classical instrument. I'm impressed by an often overlooked aspect (healing aspect) of Indian classical music. True intelligence resides in the heart.”
Raga Jogiya, Bhairavi, Malhar, Darbari are no longer just music to the ears, but also a form of treatment, recovery, prevention and improvement. Rejoice! The melodious Indian Classical music is being used to affect miraculous cures, for quicker post operative recovery, treating infertility, preventing natal handicaps in new-born as also to develop concentration and memory in youth and children.
Different ragas are used to cure different ailments. Dr Sucheta Rakshit, music therapist practising at a hospital here informs that she studies the history of each patient which includes his living style, the food habits, the medical records and even the astrological signs. The therapy is prescribed accordingly. A woman with a rural background would be preferably advised natural soothing sounds akin to sea, wind and river, she explains.
The ragas of Indian classical music are classified according to `pahar' (the time period of a day), and the therapy mandates hearing the raga in the ordained pahar only. For example hyperactive people are prescribed morning ragas. The morning ragas are those that should be listened to in the morning. These include Raga Jogiya, Bhairavi, Todi, Bilash todi and Lalit etc. The afternoon ragas consist of Soodh Sarang, Jaunpuri, Bhim palasi with Raga Yaman, Bihag, Kalyan and Sudh kalyan constituting the evening ragas. The night ragas would include Darbari Kanada and Adana.
Music therapy is being used extensively in a hospital here for patients of neurology and gynaecology departments with amazing results. Dr Prakash Khaitan, neurosurgeon here says, "We are using music therapy along with medicines and it has been seen that the recovery has been much faster than with just medicines." He recounts recent cases where post operative recovery has been quicker due to music therapy."I operated a 60-year-old woman who was suffering from haemaephalagia (half body is paralysed). She was given music therapy along with the medicines and we saw that she regained consciousness, vision, sensations and movement of body parts much faster than in earlier cases. The recovery period came down to nearly half, he recalled." Dr Khaitan mentions another case of an agitated 40-year-old male patient with a severe head injury. "We performed a CT scan on him and as we were preparing for the operation, we played music which had a becalming effect on him. A repeat scan immediately thereafter showed reduced inflammation in brain which implies that music therapy leads to some kind of activation of brain cells. These indications are extremely encouraging," he gushes.
Many ailments can be cured with music only. Raga Bhairavi helps in curing asthma and cold as also sleeplessness. Raga Malhar, Raga Sorath, Raga Jaijiwanti are used to get rid of mental stress. Further, Raga Sarang cures headache, Raga Darbari improves heart condition, Raga Pancham reduces stomach disorders and Raga Shivranjini enhances memory. To energise the body, refresh the mind, to mitigate migraine and even in treatment of psychiatric cases like insomnia, music therapy is very effective. "In severe cases we start the therapy with only instrumental music which is later upgraded to vocal music, informs," Dr Sucheta.
"We recommend that the patient should listen to the music during the advised time period with a headphone. In operative recovery cases, we give the music therapy to patients twice a day (mornings and evenings). Usually each session is an hour long. The room should be dark and if that is not possible then eyes should be covered with a dark coloured eye band. The patient should be comfortable so that musical vibrations seep into the body," she adds.
Dr Vandana Bansal, gynaecologist and IVF specialist, feels that music is the essence of life and has an immense becalming effect on the mind. "I personally, too, believe in music therapy. When I perform operations, I prefer to play a soothing music in the operation theatre. Also after a tiring day I listen to the recommended music and feel rejuvenated," she says.
Music therapy helps cure infertility and autistic children (children born with a handicap). Both these are directly related to mental stress. Music therapy is showing positive results in post delivery and post operative recovery of patients. "We plan to use music therapy in our IVF techniques also," informs Dr Bansal.
With the world's first music therapy programme launched in Michigan State University in 1944, today music is also being used to overcome depression, to enhance concentration and memory in children as also develop intellect and creativity in youth. The seven notes of music may soon turn out to be the seven wonders of the medical world!
SaSha
FOR MORE INTERESTING POSTS, LIKE AND JOIN US Indian Sage Warriors
Hindu philosophy gives us an insight into the “feeling” nature of music and how deeply the human spirit affects and is affected by the outcome of a performance. Shyamali Sharma, a performing sitar artist and music therapist of many years says, “I can certainly attest to the fact that your personal feelings are projected on the audience tremendously, so much so that if you are upset, you should not play because everyone listening to your performance will be affected by your emotion. If you are overwhelmed with happiness, so will they be.”
There are 72 raagas, which are known as the Melakarta ragas (Parant raagas) from which other ragas known as the Janya ragas are obtained. Neural research proves that the 72 raagas can control 72 nerves in the human body. Singing or performing a Raga, when bound to its specifications (lakshanas) and with purity in pitch (swara shuddi) gives the performer complete control on the corresponding nerve. Ragas Ahirbhairav and Todi are prescribed for patients suffering from hypertension. Carnatic ragas like Punnagavarali and Sahana are useful to calm the mind and control anger.
Ragas used in Music Therapy
Raga Treatment
Todi, Bhupali, Ahir Bhairav--Provides relief from cold andheadache,
high blood pressure
Shivaranjani -- Treats memory problems
Bhairavi -- Provides relief from Sinus, cold,
phlegm, toothache
Chandrakauns --Treatment of heart ailments and
diabetes
Darbari Kanara --Eases tension and provides relaxation
Bihag and Bahar --For sound, sonorous sleep
Darbari --Relief from tension
Malkauns, Asavari --Cures low blood pressure
Tilak-kamod, Hansdhwani,
Kalavati, Durga --Easing tension
Hindustani and Carnatic classical musical considers a Raga as depicting a specific mood. An appropriate mood has to be evoked in the listener’s mind before initiating musical treatment. For example, Kafi Raga evokes a humid, cool, soothing and deep mood while Raga Pooriya Dhanasri evokes sweet, deep, heavy, cloudy and stable state of mind. Raga Mishra Mand has a very pleasing, refreshing, light and sweet touch while Bageshwari arouses a feeling of stability, depth and calmness.
Ragas do heal when rendered properly, at the right pitch (saptak), with the true vaadis (a note that is most frequently used in a raga, such as ‘ga’ in raga Yaman) and samvaadis (a note that supports the vaadi, viz. ‘ni’ in raga Yaman) brought forth, and at the correct prahar (time). Even a single swar/note has immense strength. Stuti, a sitar player in the US is suffering from a heart condition. She says, “I mainly use my sitar for meditation as I find the sound of the instrument bringing healing to me. I take the sitar to parks and beaches out in hot or cold weather as I need the serenity of its sound because of my heart condition.”
Another musician of the Jaipur gharana who recently bought a rudra veena writes, “I myself have noticed great cardiac as well as psychological benefits from playing my recently purchased Indian classical instrument. I'm impressed by an often overlooked aspect (healing aspect) of Indian classical music. True intelligence resides in the heart.”
Raga Jogiya, Bhairavi, Malhar, Darbari are no longer just music to the ears, but also a form of treatment, recovery, prevention and improvement. Rejoice! The melodious Indian Classical music is being used to affect miraculous cures, for quicker post operative recovery, treating infertility, preventing natal handicaps in new-born as also to develop concentration and memory in youth and children.
Different ragas are used to cure different ailments. Dr Sucheta Rakshit, music therapist practising at a hospital here informs that she studies the history of each patient which includes his living style, the food habits, the medical records and even the astrological signs. The therapy is prescribed accordingly. A woman with a rural background would be preferably advised natural soothing sounds akin to sea, wind and river, she explains.
The ragas of Indian classical music are classified according to `pahar' (the time period of a day), and the therapy mandates hearing the raga in the ordained pahar only. For example hyperactive people are prescribed morning ragas. The morning ragas are those that should be listened to in the morning. These include Raga Jogiya, Bhairavi, Todi, Bilash todi and Lalit etc. The afternoon ragas consist of Soodh Sarang, Jaunpuri, Bhim palasi with Raga Yaman, Bihag, Kalyan and Sudh kalyan constituting the evening ragas. The night ragas would include Darbari Kanada and Adana.
Music therapy is being used extensively in a hospital here for patients of neurology and gynaecology departments with amazing results. Dr Prakash Khaitan, neurosurgeon here says, "We are using music therapy along with medicines and it has been seen that the recovery has been much faster than with just medicines." He recounts recent cases where post operative recovery has been quicker due to music therapy."I operated a 60-year-old woman who was suffering from haemaephalagia (half body is paralysed). She was given music therapy along with the medicines and we saw that she regained consciousness, vision, sensations and movement of body parts much faster than in earlier cases. The recovery period came down to nearly half, he recalled." Dr Khaitan mentions another case of an agitated 40-year-old male patient with a severe head injury. "We performed a CT scan on him and as we were preparing for the operation, we played music which had a becalming effect on him. A repeat scan immediately thereafter showed reduced inflammation in brain which implies that music therapy leads to some kind of activation of brain cells. These indications are extremely encouraging," he gushes.
Many ailments can be cured with music only. Raga Bhairavi helps in curing asthma and cold as also sleeplessness. Raga Malhar, Raga Sorath, Raga Jaijiwanti are used to get rid of mental stress. Further, Raga Sarang cures headache, Raga Darbari improves heart condition, Raga Pancham reduces stomach disorders and Raga Shivranjini enhances memory. To energise the body, refresh the mind, to mitigate migraine and even in treatment of psychiatric cases like insomnia, music therapy is very effective. "In severe cases we start the therapy with only instrumental music which is later upgraded to vocal music, informs," Dr Sucheta.
"We recommend that the patient should listen to the music during the advised time period with a headphone. In operative recovery cases, we give the music therapy to patients twice a day (mornings and evenings). Usually each session is an hour long. The room should be dark and if that is not possible then eyes should be covered with a dark coloured eye band. The patient should be comfortable so that musical vibrations seep into the body," she adds.
Dr Vandana Bansal, gynaecologist and IVF specialist, feels that music is the essence of life and has an immense becalming effect on the mind. "I personally, too, believe in music therapy. When I perform operations, I prefer to play a soothing music in the operation theatre. Also after a tiring day I listen to the recommended music and feel rejuvenated," she says.
Music therapy helps cure infertility and autistic children (children born with a handicap). Both these are directly related to mental stress. Music therapy is showing positive results in post delivery and post operative recovery of patients. "We plan to use music therapy in our IVF techniques also," informs Dr Bansal.
With the world's first music therapy programme launched in Michigan State University in 1944, today music is also being used to overcome depression, to enhance concentration and memory in children as also develop intellect and creativity in youth. The seven notes of music may soon turn out to be the seven wonders of the medical world!
SaSha
FOR MORE INTERESTING POSTS, LIKE AND JOIN US Indian Sage Warriors
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