Music Therapy (Raga Treatment)

Long before acoustics came to be understood in
Europe,Ancient Arab, Greek and Indian civilisations
were already familiar with the therapeutic role of
sounds and vibrations and the later day concepts
pertaining to them.

While music as a whole is well recognised for its
entertainment value, the Indian civilisation had gone
a step forward to attribute the curative aspect to
music.

The ancient system of "Nada Yoga " which dates back to
the time of Tantras, has fully acknowledged the impact
of music on body and mind and implemented it into
practice, the vibrations emanating from the sounds to
uplift one's level of consciousness. It is the Indian
genius that recognised the Ragas are not mere
commodities of entertainment but the vibrations in
their resonance could synchronise with one's moods
and health.By stimulating the moods and controlling
the brain wave patterns , ragas could work as a
complimentary medicine.

Raga, as we all know is the sequence of selected notes
(swaras)that lend appropriate 'mood' or emotion in a
selective combination.Depending on its nature, a raga
could induce or intensify joy or sorrow, violence or
peace and it is this quality that forms the basis for
its musical application. A whole range of emotions and
their nuances could be captured and communicated
within certain rhythms and melodies.

Playing, performing and even listening to appropriate
ragas can work as a medicine. Various ragas have since
been recognised to have definite impact on certain
ailments.The ancient Hindus had relied on music for
its curative role, the chanting and toning involved in
Veda mantras in praise of God have been used from
time immemorial as a cure for several dis harmonies
in the individual as well as his environment.

Several sects of 'devotion' such as Chaitanya
sampradaya have all accorded priority in music.
Historical records too indicate that one Haridas
Swami who was the Guru of the famous musician in
Akbar's time, Tan sen is credited with the recovery of
one of the queens of the Emperor with a selected
raga.

The great composers of classical music in India known
as the 'Musical Trinity' , who were curiously the
contemporaries of the Trinity of the western
classical music, Bach,Beethoven and Mozart, were quite
sensitive to the acoustical energies.

Legend has it, that Saint Thyagaraja brought a dead
person back to life with his BILAHARI composition
"Naa Jiva Dhaara". Muthuswamy Dikshithar's Navagraha
Krithis is believed to cure stomach ache. Shyama
sastry's composition "Duru Sugu" uses music to pray
for good health. Raga treatment was an ancient
manuscript, which dealt with the therapeutic effects
of raga.The library at Tanjore is reported to contain
such a treasure on ragas , that spells out the
application and use of various ragas in fighting
common ailments.

Living system show sensitivity to specific radiant
energies, be it acoustical.magnetic or
electromagnetic.As the impact of music could easily be
gauged on emotions and on mind, it can be used as a
tool to control the physiological,psychological and
even social activities of the patients.

The Indian classical music can be classified into two
forms i.e

1."Kalpita Sangita or composition, which is
previously conceived ,memorised,practised and
rendered.

2.Manodharma sangita or the music extemporised and
performed.

The latter can be equated to the honey mooners first
night as it conceives both spontaneity and
improvisation.It is fresh and natural, as it is
created almost on the spot and rendered instantly on
the spur of the moment.

According to an ancient Indian Text, "Swara sastra",
the 72 Melakartha ragas control the 72 important
nerves in the body. it is believed that IF ONE SINGS
WITH DUE DEVOTION, ADHERING TO RAGA LAKSHANA AND
SRUTHI SHUDDHI, the raga could affect the particular
nerve in the body in FAVOURABLE MANNER.

While the descending notes(avarohanam) in a raga do
create inward-orienting feelings, the ascending
notes(arohanam) represent an upward mobility. The
music played for the soldiers or for dancers have to
be more lively and uplifting with frequent use of
arohana content. Similarly,melancholic songs should
go for 'depressing'avarohanas.

Although it is not a rule , most of the western tunes
based on major keys play joyful notes, while those
composed in minor keys tend to be melancholic or
serious.

Certain ragas do have a tendency to move the
listeners both emotionally as well as physically. An
involuntary nod of the head, limbs or body could
synchronise with tilting tunes when played.

Ragas like Darbari,Kanada,Kamas and Pooriya are found
to help in defusing mental tension particularly in the
case of hysterics. For those who suffer from
hypertension, ragas such as Ahirbhairavi,Pooriya and
Todi are prescirbed. To control anger and bring down
the violence within, ragas like Punnagavarali& Sahana
come handy. For stomach related disorders, there are
ragas from Hindustani school-Deepak for
acidity,Gunkali and Jaunpuri for constipation and
Malkaus for intestinal gas.For controlling high fevers
such as malaria, ragas such as Malkaus(Hindolam) and
Marava are considered useful.Darbari
Kanada,Jayjaywanthi and Sohni are recommended for
headache. There is growing awareness that rags could
be a safe alternative for many medical
interventions.

Simple iterative musical rhythms with low pitched
swars, as in bhajans and kirtans could do wonders as
a sedative .even substituting powerful analgesics such
as Valium. They can change the brain wave patterns
from Beta to Alpha levels,thereby causing relaxation
in the minds of the listeners, leading to favourable
hormonal changes in the system.

It is necessary that a group of exponents in Indian
ragas join experts in medicine to help evolving a
scientific system of raga therapy for the most common
illness of the modern times stress and stress related
disorders. Our leaders, professionals and managers
all suffer from stress, thanks to the ever
ever-increasing man machine interface , resulting in
the machine making the man to behave, often beyond
his capacity-almost to a breaking point.

Source: B.J/12/2007

'Music is divine and have your ailments cured in
divine way"
J.K