source: linkedin post
Why Music can heal?
Indian music has seven notes or swaras / vibes; Shadjamam, Rishabham, Gandharam, Madhyamam, Panchamam, Dhivatham and Nishadham (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Da and Ne). A raga is in some ways a kind of mystical expression with a musical personality of its own. Music is an art of expressing ideas and emotions in beautiful forms like rhythm, melody, tones, harmony, humming, etc. More so, if the musician plays all the four roles, those of the songwriter, the composer, the singer, and the instrumentalist.
Music is a feeling or emotion. For a right-handed person, the left side of the brain receives and processes the lyrics and right side gets involved with melodies. Rhythm perception and processing are also functions of the right brain. So, in any classical music where only instruments are involved, wind or strings, along with percussions, the musical experience activates the right brain. In the case of vocal classical music where some lyrics may be present, especially in the thumris and ghazals of Indian Classical Music, the left brain gets involved.
In light music having lyrics, both sides of the brain get equally activated and healing process started, biochemical energy reactions happen, the happiness hormones - serotonin, endorphins even oxytocin release. The subjective feeling is that of being healed, energized and self loved.
Music therapy is an established form of therapy to help individuals address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Music helps reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and cortisol in the body. It eases anxiety and can help improve mood.
Music improves sleep through calming parts of the autonomic nervous system, leading to slower breathing, stable heart rate, and reduced blood pressure. The whole structure of Indian classical music is built around the concept of raga.
This leads to 72 seven-note combinations referred to as the Melakartha ragas, the entire set of 72 melakarta ragas can be divided into two parts. viz.,. suddha Madhyamam and prati Madhyamam ragas. All the 12 Chakras can be remembered with the help of these names which denote specifics. Indu, Netra, Agni, Veda, Bana, Rithu, Risi, Vasu, Brahma, Disi, Rudra and Aditya.
The first six Chakras each of which have six ragas: Indu Moon; The earth has one moon, Netra Eyes; We have two eyes, Agni Fire; Jatharagni; there are three types of fire as stated in the Veda (Dakshina, Ahvaniya and Garhapadya), Veda; The Original Hindu scriptures are 4 in number Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharvana. Bana Arrow; Kama or cupid (Manmatha with Rati) is believed to have arrows with five flowers (Lotus, Mango, Jasmine, Ashoka and Lily), Ritu Seasons Of six types (Vasanta, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharad, Sisira and Hemanta), there are a total of 36 Suddha Madhyama Melakartha Ragas in initial stage
Next 36
Now, we will move on to the next 36, which have three swaras in common : Sadjamam, Panchamam and Prathi Madhyamam.
The seventh Chakra is known as the Risi Chakra. After the saptharisis, the seven famous sages â Gowtama, Viswamitra, Kashyapa, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja, Atri and Vasishta â who form the group Saptharisis.
The eighth Chakra is Vasu. The Vasus are a group of eight Devas or celestial beings, namely Aapa, Dhruva, Soma, Dava. Pratyusha., Anila, Anala, and Prabhasa.
The ninth Chakra is Brahma. This refers to the mythological mention of the nine cycles of the universe, each presided by one Brahma. They are Atri, Angirasa, Brighu, Daksha, Kashyapa, Pulaha, Marichi, Vasishta and Pulastya.
Next, we have the 10 directions, or the tenth Chakra, which is Disi, east, west, north, south, north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west. They are known as the Ashtadikpalakas â Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruddhi, Varuna, Vayu, Kuber, IsanaâŠand Akasa and Patala.
11th chakra
The11th Chakra is Rudra, a group of 11 Devas headed by Lord Siva â Aja, Dwasha, Ekapada, Triambake, Aparajita, Isana, Tribhuvana, Sambhu, Hara, Rudra and Ahirputniya . So, the 11 Chakra is named after them, the final, 12th, Chakra, is Aditya.
12 Adityas / the 12 Suryas in the Cosmic Universe; Poosha, Bhaskara, Marichi, Arka, Khaga, Surya, Mitra, Aditya, Ravi, Bhanu, Savita and Hiranyagarbha.
Routine âReligionâ has its span limited between the âAnnamaya Koshaâ (satisfaction of physiological needs), âPranamaya Koshaâ (satisfaction of the safety & security needs) and the âManomaya Koshaâ (satisfaction of the social & emotional needs). âSpiritualityâ which is âBeyond Religionâ stretches itself to âVijnanamaya Koshaâ (satisfaction of the needs arising out of the brainâs âSeeking System Circuit (SSC)â â âExplore-Experiment-Learnâ) and âAnandamaya Koshaâ (satisfaction of the needs to create, innovate, discover, pioneer something for the welfare of the mankind or progress of the domain). Up to the âMonomaya Koshaâ level, the musician hankers for âSmartâ and âShort-lived/Shortâ varieties of âHappinessâ.
Just adding to the list of ragas mentioned in the chart - There is a certain mela scheme according to which there are 36 more melakarta ragas (making it 72+36 = 108 in total) which are formed when the panchamam (pa) gets replaced by madhyamam (ma) making such ragas have both shudha madhyamam and prati madhyamam and hence called dwi-madhyama ragas. And of course the janyas from these make for a host of more ragas that come under this umbrella.