NCMT-Indian Music Therapy by Harini Jayaraman,Co-ordinator,NADA Center for music therapy

                                             

Indian Music Therapy

                       -Written and illustrated by Harini Jayaraman

Being one of the oldest traditions in the world, Indian music has been used for healing purposes since ancient times. Its uses have been exemplified through the following ways  : Raga Chikitsa one of the ancient texts elaborated on the role of music for healing which currently used in clinical practice, Swami Haridas used music to cure people from illnesses, palm leaf manuscripts on the role of music to cure psychological ailments were collected and preserved for several centuries in The Thanjavur Saraswathi Mahal library. Ancient Carnatic music has been attributed to the high level of emotional resilience of our ancestors.

Music is currently universally recognized as one of the forms of natural healing. The term ‘music therapy’ has been coined for this form of healing where a qualified practitioner uses music as a systematic clinical intervention for therapeutic purposes. It is currently a well-recognized healing profession globally. Music therapists use music to induce various emotional states and states of consciousness.

Indian music is entirely based on the concept of ‘raga’ and ‘rasa’, raga refers to the arrangement of Indian musical notes to create a certain tune while each ‘raga’ has a ‘rasa’ which is a term used to refer to the aesthetic quality of the tune that will invoke certain physiological and emotional responses. For this reason, Indian music therapy is also known as ‘Raga Therapy’.

The vibration of each raga in Indian music will activate a particular chakra of the seven chakras present in the body. Once, the chakra is activated the healing characteristics which are associated with that chakra are effected as each raga energizes and nourishes certain chakras.

Ragas are also designed to ensure that the chakras spin optimally leading to a balanced energy supply to the bodily organs associated with that chakra.

This method prevents, reduces, alleviates and treats both physical and mental illnesses. Raga therapy also helps improve physical, mental and emotional health.

                      

                      The chakras present in the various body parts

Sahasrara Chakra (The Crown Chakra)

Ajna (The Third eye chakra)

                                  Vishuddha(The throat chakra)

                                Anahata(The heart chakra)

                                

                                   Manipura(Naval Chakra)

                            Svadhishtana Chakra(The root chakra)

                            

Muladhara Chakra(The root chakra)

Below is a list of various chakras, the body part that each chakra is present in, associated personal qualities, the Indian notation, and the Associated Ragas.

CHAKRA	BODY PART PRESENT	PERSONAL QUALITIES ASSOCIATED	INDIAN NOTE	ASSOCIATED RAGAS
Sahasrara	Limbic area, brain	Consciousness Integration	Re,ga,da,ni	Bhairavi and Sindhu bhairavi
Ajna	Eyes	Forgiveness	Ga, da	Mohanam and Bageshri
Vishudda	Throat	Calmness collectivism, respect for others	Pa	Dwijavanti and desh
Anahata	Heart and cardiac organs	Sense of security, fearlessness and responsible behaviour	Ma(1)	Bhairavi, Ahir Bhairavi Chakravaham Durga Maya Malawa Gowla
Manipura	Stomach and liver	Creativity and general life satisfaction	Ga(1)	Abhogi Hindolam
Svadhishtana	Liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas and uterus	Knowledge	Ra(1)	Yaman
Muladhara	Pelvis, prostrate	Innocence and wisdom	Sa	Kalyani Hamsadwani Hamsanandi