Music to Heal

Sri Swamiji says, “Music is my religion, Music is my language, Music is my soul and Music is my expression”.
Music is a force that unites Humanity the world over. Music has for centuries been known to have a pleasing appeal to both humans and animals. The key constituents are Rhythm and Tone (Taala and Swara) in which actually inhere the potent effect producing substance of music, The Vibrations.

NADA VIBRATIONS, THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
Vibration is basically the activity of Consciousness and it is Consciousness; which is the cause of creation. Each vibration originating from its original source is the same; it differs only in its tone and rhythm due to greater or lesser degree of force behind it. On the plane of Nada (sound), vibration causes diversity of tone. The vibrations become audible when they are massed together. Nada gives to the Consciousness (Atma) an evidence of its existence, although it is part of Consciousness itself, which has turned into Nada. In other words, the Consciousness bears witness to its own voice. That is why it is said that Music is the expression of Soul.
There are two aspects of Vibrations, Fine and Gross, having varied degrees. Some are perceived by the soul, some by the mind and some by the eyes. What the soul perceives are the vibrations of the feelings; what the mind conceives are the vibrations of thoughts; what the eyes see are the vibrations appearing through the objects of the physical world.
The mysticism of music in the context of Meditation and Healing lies essentially in quality of sound vibrations emanating from the rhythm and tone of music. And if one knew what rhythm was needed for a particular individual in his trouble and despair, what tone was needed and to what pitch that person’s level of consciousness should be raised, one would then be able to heal himself with music.

“MUSICAL NOTES have their effects on our body as the tunes correspond to our Nerves”. The knowledge about this is called Raga Ragini Vidya or Siddhi Vidya. Musical Ragas (tunes) are said to help treatment of patients with afflictions of physical and mental nature, in certain conditions.

A Long Quest: The Swamiji’s quest began when he was a child of eight. On May 26, 1942, in the small hamlet of Mekedatu, Jayalakshmi and Narasimha Sastri were blessed with a baby boy. They named him Satyanarayana. His parents were engrossed in spiritual practices and Satyanarayana grew up in this atmosphere. Even as a young boy, he displayed a natural inclination to classical music and spirituality.

Nadopasana: Satyanarayana became Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at the age of 22. His mantra was Nadopasana(Worship Of Music). Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji says,”I was eight years old when I first read in the Sastras about the healing effects of Music. I was, by the grace of God, also naturally gifted with this art. With no formal training, I could play various musical instruments like the sitar, veena, flute and so on. I thought my music would be put to good use if it could benefit mankind.. I conducted small experiments and they proved successful. This encouraged me to go deeper into the subject”.

Sri Swamiji says “The body has a number of Energy Centres called CHAKRAS and 72,000 Metaphysical Energy Channels called NADIS,14 of which are Nerve Centers. Each one of these vibrates at a particular frequency and has its own elemental basis such as Earth, Water, Fire, Air, etc. Each Raga produces sound vibrations appropriate to a specific element and therefore to a specific Chakra and a set of related body organs”.