The effects of music were very much known to the common man during the ancient days, but with the advent of technological advancements and with industrialisation and materialism around, the softer nuances of life started disappearing. When traditional actions were replaced by the rational actions, the societies started keeping aside those aspects which were not giving much of material gains. Music around the world went through various phases and there is no denying the fact that it could not be replaced and even when neglected to great extent by the common man, there were people who took the responsibility to revive and keep the music alive in its various forms in different parts of the world.
As life started becoming a race where you have no other option rather than being a part of it, human psyche started becoming complicated and we started to look for solutions which could provide with some relief. As we are part of a cycle, this is like moving towards the beginning, reinventing the benefits right from the use of turmeric and spices in food, to the value of yoga and the effects of music on the human psyche, which was well ingrained in the lifestyle of people earlier.
It has been proved that music has positive effects on the growing child in the mother’s womb as the foetus responds to music fostering a better development of specific areas of the brain. Children listening to music from early age develop as more intelligent, sensible and analytical human beings.
Pythagoras once stated that music had the power to contribute significantly to good health. He had termed this healing process as ‘purification’. The transformative powers of sound were also well appreciated in ancient China where musical science used to be part of education and this is mentioned in some of the historical memoirs dating back to first century B.C. It was found that music and sounds generated life-giving breath and brought harmony and rectitude to heart. There are certain notes that affect the spleen and bring saintliness, some affect the kidneys and bring perfect wisdom.
Science has proven that music has positive effects even on plants as they grow better in those surroundings where music is played. Even cows give more milk while listening to music. Music has its effect on the three gunas – tamas, sattva, and rajas. We can observe that just a repeated recitation of a mantra, or a shloka, or just one of the names of Almighty inspires us spiritually and the rhythms elevate and stimulate body energies. A keertana can take you to a world which gives you bliss and ecstasy, the romantic notes help you revisit the nostalgic moments, while some notes can evoke longing and pain.
The Srimad Bhagavad Gita specifies that a spiritual nutrition has the power to cleanse and refine the sensory organs and clarify thoughts. Hence, listening to good music which can usher in the feelings of love, devotion, kindness should be part of our daily life just as the intake of nutritional food for our body.
Our inspiring Hindu mythologies are replete with various examples of the powerful attraction towards music. Poets such as Surdas and Meera Bai have sung in their bhajans how Shri Krishna when used to take his cows for grazing in the jungles, would play his flute in the evenings and all his cows scattered here and there in the forest would come running and assemble around him to be taken back home. Deers, squirrels and other animals also drawn by his music would gather peacefully around the Lord. His beloved Radha and gopis – mesmerised by the miraculous tunes Krishna played – would forget their daily chores and come running to the forest.
The power of music can also be analysed with an anecdote related to Taansen, the court musician of King Akbar. Tansen’s singing was so powerful and magical that he could light up lamps by singing raga Deepak and bring rains by performing raga megha malhar.
We living beings are also drawn towards various types of sound but we have to understand and learn how to differentiate between sound and noise. In the name of music, a lot of noise is being added to our lives and it affects us in a negative way. It results in an overstimulation of the nervous system, subsequently weakening the powers of concentration and self-control. So the therapeutic elements of music need to be induced in our daily life which can help us stay healthy, mentally and spiritually and be a soothing balm to all of us.
Discussion about this post