NADOPASANA

Contents

.  Introduction

.  Nadopasana in ancient scriptures

.  Nadabrahma as in Upanishads

.  Nada and the Chakras

.  Nada Chikitsa

.  Nada and its Emanation

.  Nada Yoga

.  Evidence of Cure and Experiments

.  Ragas and their cures

.  Conclusion

Introduction

From time immemorial more than any other art, it is the art of music which has always been considered as intimately connected to the inner soul. Music stirs that part of the mind which is incognisant, that part ‘which passeth all understanding’ as the Scriptures state by relaxing and soothing the mind. According to our ancient scriptures human beings are microscopic images of the whole universe. Each human being carries within himself the divine latent energy called Kundalini which lies unawakened. One of the yogic methods to awaken this dormant force is through Nadopasana or devotion through music. Worshipping and identifying oneself with the pure sound emanating from creation and being in consonance with it leads to salvation. Sound has been used since time immemorial as a healing tool and we can find the use of Ultrasound in modern day technology to observe foetuses, break kidney stones, tumours, check internal organs, to repair DNA etc. By elevating sound vibrations to a spiritual level the music in our heart resounds with the subtle music resonating in nature creating the required equilibrium and bringing about a cure.

Nadopasana in ancient scriptures

In ancient scriptures there are several references to Nadopasana in musicology, epics and philosophy. The Vedas were the earliest written documents where syllables were vocalised and melody and rhythm were added to it. The science of music was dealt specially in Gandharva Veda, one of the Upavedas. In yoga treatises, tantra works and in Matanga’s Brihadesi written in the 5^th or 6^th century, indepth descriptions of sound and the nature of sound are found.  These doctrines were later synthesized by Sarangadeva in the Sangitha Ratnakara written in the end of the thirteenth century by him which is a definitive musicology text of both Hindustani and Carnatic music and the opening shlokas explain the interrelationship between Nada and Kundalini. The first shloka of Sarangadeva refers to the Lord as “Nada Tanu” meaning one whose body is sound. Sarangadeva in his thesis has elaborately discussed causal sound and its divine nature. According to him the causal sound manifests at three levels referred to as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The causal sound manifesting at the heart level is known as Mandra, at the throat level is Madhya and at the base of the tongue is Taara. Thus Nada is the solid rock on which the entire philosophical foundation of music rests upon. The Atman or the divine entity is the core which is said to eternally sing the immortal song of absolute music which represents the infinite but which is colourless and formless in essence. The feeling distilled in sound has a definite tune form but the meaning is infinite.

The other treatises on the science of Nadopasana are Natya Shastra by Bharata, Sangita Parijat by Pandit Ahobal, Bhartiya Sangit ka Itihas by Sangeetacharya Ramavatar Veer, Gandharva Veda by Pandit Vasant Khadilkar wherein music has been treated with a holistic approach. The great Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan said that ‘Creation was the music of God’ and it is this music of God that resounds and manifests itself in the whole universe. Nada is said to transcend space and time and is the manifestation of ether.

Nadabrahma as in Upanishads

Of the five elements, space is the subtlest and gives us sound (Shabdha) in the universe. The other senses of touch (Sparsha), Sight (Rupa), Taste (Rasa) and Smell (Gandha) all include the aspect of sound ie Shabdha (hearing) in a subtle manner.

Thus Sparsha=Shabdha + Sparsha

Roopa= Shabdha+ Sparsha +Roopa

Rasa= Shabdha + Sparsha+ Roopa+ Rasa

Gandha= Shabdha+ Sparsha+ Roopa+ Gandha

In Other Words,

Touch= Hearing+ Touch

Seeing= Hearing+ Touch+ Seeing

Taste= Hearing+ Touch+ Seeing+ Taste

Smell= Hearing+ Touch+ Seeing+ Taste+ Smell

Sound is thus stored in the brain by the sense of touch, seeing, taste and smell.

Similarly all motor organs of hands, legs etc have Sound in a subtle manner.

Nada and the Chakras

According to the Science of Yoga, human body exists in two levels which are the gross material level and the subtle non material level. The human body has around 72,000 metaphysical energy channels called Nadis and a number of energy centres called Chakras both which operate on the subtle level. The Nadis or nerves converge and emerge from the Chakras. Whether we are conscious of them or not the Chakras are active at all times, constantly in a state of vibration with the movement of the life energy or prana moving inside the body. Each of these has a basis in the five elements. A Raga in music produces sound vibrations appropriate to a specific element.  This in turn corresponds to a specific Chakra which in turn is related to a set of body organs. All the Nadis in the Pranic nervous system have to be functioning properly for a human body to be working perfectly. 14 out of the 72,000 nadis are considered most important and maintain the efficient functioning of the body. Internal blockages in the energy movement or increasing or decreasing frequencies in the vibrations are the primary causes for illnesses. Different ragas are said to rectify the frequencies of different energy centres and enable the free flow of energy without blockages thus healing the illness. The Ancient treatise of the Art of Celestial Music or Gandharva Vidya explored the divine power of music. Thus Chakras balance the physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual being of the individual and can be balanced by music, love and meditation. Love is the universal healer and musical notes heal the mind, body and soul. Whether plants, animals or humans, everything in the universe is connected with each other through vibrations, every object having its own natural frequency. Whatever energy is given out is also received back. Music creates the atmosphere conducive to a calm and peaceful energy level which in turn enables healing.

Nada Chikitsa

The intimate relationship between music and God has always been explored by saints and seers. Nada when approached with reverence, faith and sincerity becomes Nadopasana or worship through music and leads to Nirvana or liberation. Great Masters have proved that music therapy is a holistic technique in which the inner level of consciousness is probed to bring about a cure from within. Many great saints have combined their knowledge of Music, Yoga, Astronomy, the biophysical structure of human beings and their relationship with the Pancha Mahabhoothas (Five Elements) to develop therapeutic music which is found to heal a number of ailments. Since music is energy in motion made up of sound vibrations, the saints also had a thorough knowledge of the wide range of energies and the knowledge to integrate them with music. While a Raga or musical note is being sung it harmonises specific emotions as each musical note relates to a certain emotion. Thus saints like Meerabai, Tulsidas, Thyagaraja, Kabir, Tukaram and many others achieved purity of mind and heart and subsequently salvation through music.

Nada and its emanation

Many writers like Sarangadeva describe the emanation of Nada in the human body. The human body is made up of five elements air, water, fire, earth and space. According to them, the Soul or Atma wishing to express itself in the form of speech stirs the mind which strikes the fire abiding in the body. The fire strikes the wind which rises upward manifesting sound in the navel, heart, throat, the head and mouth. Sound then assumed the material structures of ragas or groups of notes, the seven principal notes associated with the cries of birds and animals being Shadja(Sa)- the cry of the peacock arising from the Sahasrara Chakra, Rishabha (Ri)- the sound emanating from the cow when calling the calf arising from the Ajna Chakra, Gandhara (Ga)- the bleat of the goat arising from the Vishuddha Chakra, Madhyama (Ma)- the tonic of nature and the cry of the heron arising from the Anahata Chakra, Panchama (Pa) – the note of the cuckoo arising from the Manipura Chakra, Dhaivata (Dha) – the neighing of the horse arising from the Svadishtana Chakra, Nishadha – the trumpeting of the elephant arising from the Muladhara Chakra. They also correspond to the seven notes in Western Music.

Nada Yoga

The Voice of God is referred to in scriptures as ‘Brahmanada. Indian music is traced back to the Sama Veda. The entire basis of music is Nada which is not merely sound but musical sound. The Sanskrit root of the word ‘Nada’ means to vibrate, pulsate and flow. Thus the root meaning of Nada is a stream of consciousness. Thus the Yogic view of Nada is not merely sound but includes the entire Universe in vibratory form. Nada is the tone produced by the human voice with ‘Na’ denoting vital air and ‘Da’ denoting fire. Sound emanated from these two components. Nada gives rise to Srutis which gives rise to Swaras which ultimately becomes the source of ragas. Sound is classified into Ahata meaning sound produced by the conscious effort of man and Anahata which is the Nada emanating from the Muladhara Chakra of the body and is heard without conscious effort. Ahata nada is the one generally studied and meditated upon due to its aesthetic and external beauty which offers instant pleasure to the mind whereas the Anahata Nada feeds the longing of the soul and goes beyond the pleasures of the mind. Thus the study of Ancient Indian Masters was the combination of different musical tones for different times of the day and different seasons and their relation to the changes in the body thus effecting balance in the energies of the body. The main aim of Nada Yoga was to learn the science of sound vibrations which was needed to still the mind and bring peace.

Evidence of cure and experiments

Indian classical music has Aroha(ascending) and Avaroha(descending) patterns of the notes which are said to match with the top to down(from Sahasrara chakra to Muladhara) and bottom to top(from Muladhara to Sahasrara) directions of the flow of energy. The original ragas were created to ensure harmony between the Chakras and the seven notes. This then creates harmony in the atmosphere. It is said that in 1933 the Italian dictator Mussolini suffered from insomnia which was incurable by medicines. The great Indian musician Pandit Omkarnath Thakur who was visiting Europe at that time offered to help him and Mussolini was said to have fallen asleep within half an hour on hearing raag Puriya. Indian classical music is said to cure migraine, insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, depression etc. A number of Western scientists like Dr.W.H.J.Wales, Dr. Brine, Dr. Hacken and many others have studied the effects of Indian music and recorded the effects of various ragas on the human anatomy.

Ragas and their Cures     

Ahir Bhairav- Indigestion, Rheumatic Arthritis, Hypertension

Asavari - To build confidence, Low BP

Bageshri- Insomnia

Basant Bahar - Gall Stones (Cholecystitis)

Bhairavi- Rheumatic Arthritis, Sinusitis, encourages detachment

Bhimpalasi - Anxiety, Hypertension

Chandrakauns- Anorexia, Heart Ailments

Darbari - Easing Tension

Darbari Kaanada- Headache, Asthma

Deepak - Indigestion, Anorexia, Hyperacidity, Gall Stones (Cholecystitis)

Gujari Todi - Cough

Gunakali - Rheumatic Arthiritis, Constipation, Headache, Piles or Haemorrhoids

Hindol - Rheumatic Arthiritis, Backache, Hypertension

Jaunpuri - Intestinal Gas, Diarrhoea, Constipation

Jaijawanti - Rheumatic Arthritis, Diarrhoea, Headache     

Kafi - Sleep disorders

Kausi Kaanada – Hypertension, Common Cold

Kedar - Headache, Common Cold, Cough, Asthma

Khamaj - Sleep disorders

Madhuvanti - Piles or Hemorrhoids

Malkauns - Intestinal Gas, Low BP

Marwa – Indigestion, Hyperacidity

Nat Bhairav - Indigestion, Rheumatic Arthritis, Colitis

Puriya - Colitis, Anaemia, Hypertension

Puriya Dhanashri - Anaemia

Ramkali – Colitis, Piles or Haemorrhoids

Shree - Anorexia, Common Cold, Cough, Asthma

Shudh Sarang – Anorexia, Gall Stones (Cholecystitia)

Shyam Kalyan - Cough, Asthma

Sohani - Headache

Yaman - Rheumatic Arthritis

Tilak Kaamod - Relaxation & Easing

Hamsadhwani, Kalavati, Durga- Tension, Pleasing effect on Nerves

Bihag - Sonorous sleep

Bhoopal Todi - High Blood Pressure

Besides this according to a research study conducted in Berlin University in Germany and in other centres of Holland, Sweden, Australia etc vibrations from shankha or conch and temple bells at certain frequencies destroys bacteria and germs from the surroundings. Western classical music by great composers like Bach too have therapeutic effects though forms of western music like pop, jazz and disco with loud frequencies for long periods tend to cause debilitating effects, tension and negative stimulation of the mind. The Primordial Sound known as ‘AUM’ or Omkar in the Universe is said to have a direct effect on the energy system. ‘A’ kar is said to activate the lunar or left channel, ‘U’kar is said to activate the solar or right channel and ‘M’kar is said to activate the centre channel directly. Chanting the “Aum” is a part of music therapy for calming the mind and alleviating stress. In recent times, saints like Ganapati Sachhidananda of Mysore and many others are using music as a healing technique.

Conclusion

Thus Nadopasana or devotion through music is considered to be a spiritual sadhana which elevates the level of consciousness in man to a higher state and enables the light of perpetual knowledge to shine upon him making it one of the purest means to attain God realisation. Nada Yoga is the ancient practice in India which states that the entire universe which includes all creation is made up of sound vibrations or Nada and creating harmony in the human body within all cells and with respect to all creation through music is the key to happiness and bliss.