| Music therapy is a scientific method of effective | | | | particular disease produces a network of sound |
| cures of disease through the power of music. It | | | | vibration. The muscles, nerves and the chakras of |
| restores, maintains and improves emotional, | | | | the affected part are contracted when one impulse is |
| physiological and psychological well being. The | | | | given and relaxed during the interval between two |
| articulation, pitch, tone and specific arrangement of | | | | impulses. Thus, during contraction of the tissue, |
| swars (notes) in a particular raga stimulates, alleviates | | | | musical notes make the blood flow out from that |
| and cures various ailments inducing electro magnetic | | | | particular area and in the interval there is relaxation |
| change in the body. | | | | and a state of reduced pressure is produced in these |
| Music therapy has a long history dating back to | | | | areas. Thus the blood from the adjacent area will |
| ancient Orphic school in Greece. Pythagorus, Plato and | | | | flow there. This process is repeated again and again |
| Aristotle, all were aware of the prophylactic and | | | | and the blood flow and energy flow in that part is |
| therapeutic powers of music. Even the old testament | | | | enhanced. This makes quick, fast healing. Energy |
| mentions music therapy where King David is said to | | | | from URF (universal energy field) to HEF (human |
| have cured an illness by playing on the harp. | | | | energy field) transmitted by the strokes of the |
| Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used | | | | different tones of raga affects the CNS (central |
| music to cure human diseases. In ancient Egypt music | | | | nervous system) because the roots of the auditory |
| was used to lessen the pain of women during | | | | nerves are more widely distributed and have more |
| childbirth. Ibn Sina, a famous Arabic writer, has | | | | connections than any other nerves in the body. Music |
| written in detail on this subject. In India legend has it | | | | beats have a very close relationship with heart heats. |
| that Thyagaraja, the famous musician of South India, | | | | Music having 70-75 beats per minute equivalent to |
| brought a dead person back to life by singing the | | | | the normal heart beat of 72 has a very soothing |
| composition Naa Jeevan Dhara in raga Bihari. In 1729 | | | | effect. Likewise rhythms which are slower than 72 |
| Richard Browne, a physician wrote the famous text | | | | beats per minute create a positive suspense on the |
| Medicina Musica which describes the use of music as | | | | mind and body since the mind body complex |
| medicine. Dr Burnell has mentioned a manuscript | | | | anticipates that the music will speed up and this |
| named Raga Chikistsa in the collections of Saraswati | | | | restored vital energy gives a deep relaxation to the |
| Mahal Library in Tanjore which deals with the various | | | | body. Rhythms which are faster than the heart rate |
| ragas that can be used for curing various ailments. | | | | excite and rejuvenate the body. |
| What is music? "Music is a kind of inarticulate, | | | | Hindustani/classical musical considers ragas as |
| unfathomable speech which leads us to the edge of | | | | depicting specific moods. An appropriate mood is to |
| the infinite and lets us for a moment gaze in that" | | | | be evoked in the listener's mind before initiating the |
| observed Carlyle. Music is basically a sound or nada | | | | musical treatment. Kafi Raga evokes a humid, cool, |
| generating particular vibrations which moves through | | | | soothing and deep mood while Raga Pooriya Dhanasri |
| the medium of ether present in the atmosphere and | | | | evokes sweet, deep, heavy, cloudy and stable state |
| effects the human body. Sarangdev mentions in his | | | | of mind. Raga Mishra Mand has a very pleasing, |
| Sangeet Ratnakar that ahata nada or music is always | | | | refreshing, light and sweet touch while Bageshwari |
| produced by striking or aghata by a living being on an | | | | arouses a feeling of darkness, stability, depth and |
| instrument of any kind. So music is a power or | | | | calmness. |
| universal energy in the form of ragas. | | | | Music is considered the best tranquiliser in modern |
| Matanga (9-10th century AD) was the earliest writer | | | | days of anxiety, tension and high blood pressure. |
| to define raga. According to him "raga is that kind of | | | | Raga Darbari is considered very effective in easing |
| sound composition consisting of melodic movements | | | | tension. It is a late night raga composed by Tansen |
| which has the effect of colouring the hearts of men". | | | | for Akbar to relieve his tension after hectic schedule |
| "There are four sources of raga: folk songs, poetry, | | | | of the daily court life. This raga belongs to Asavari |
| devotional songs of mystics and compositions of | | | | That and is a complete raga containing all the seven |
| classical musicians. While harmony is the characteristic | | | | notes. The seven notes are taken from various |
| of Western music, Indian music is pure melody. The | | | | natural sounds of birds and animals. Pandit Jasaraj's |
| general term for melody in India is raga or ragini". | | | | Ram Ko Sumiran Kar in Vilambil Ek Tal is one of the |
| (Kangra Ragmala -- M.S. Randhawa). | | | | best available recordings of this majestic raga. Pandit |
| Symphonies of raga have a definite soothing effect | | | | Raghunath Seth's Raga Darabari (instrumental) in a |
| on the mind as well as on the body. Repeated | | | | Music Therapy cassette named Tanav is especially |
| listening to the particular raga being chosen for a | | | | composed for easing tension. |