MUSIC OF AYURVEDA

Music of Ayurveda : The ancient vedic method of sound therapy....Listen to Ayurveda..

Ayurveda-Influence of Music On Health

Ayurveda is the ancient philosophy of India, in which sound, created by vibrations, plays a central role. Everything in the animate and inanimate world has its own personal vibration. When the cells and tissues vibrate in their personal harmony then there is a free and unhindered flow of energy and a person lives in good health and well being. Any disturbance of this flow of energy is defined as illness in Ayurveda.

Sushruta (Ayurvedic doctor and author, about 1000 B.C.) describes a state of perfect health as follows: "He whose doshas (constitution) are in balance, whose appetite is good, whose dhatus (tissue layers) are functioning normally, whose malas (forms of elimination) are in balance, and whose Self, mind, and senses remain full of bliss, is called a healthy person." ("Samadoshah samagnish ca samadhatumalakriyah prasannatmendriyamanah svastha ity abhidhiyate." - Sushruta Sutrasthanam 15.41).

Such people are hard to find today. Damaging environmental influences, unhealthy eating and bad lifestyles, as well as stressful jobs are usual in the present time and they cause imbalance in mind and body.

The main objective of Ayurveda is to restore this balance, the inner centre, which it calls Svasthya (established in the Self). In order to re-establish this connection to the Self, the original state of health, Ayurveda uses relaxation techniques and body exercises such as meditation and yoga, cleansing method such as Panchakarma, as well as music and herbal preparations. Vibrations play an important role. Thus in the Ayurvedic medicine the whole plant is always used and not just a filtered out active substance. The vibrations of the plant should restore the natural equilibrium in the body without overloading it.

Dhanvantari - God of Ayurveda
Music is another method to restore the body to its original state of harmony. The ragas of classical Indian music are derived from Sama Veda and, like Ayurveda, they also have their source in the Vedic tradition, which disappeared around three to five thousand years ago. The musician catches the mood of nature, the surroundings and the audience and presents it with voice or instrument. Raga music has a concept of time and quality that assigns the various ragas to particular times, seasons or emotions. For example, Raga Bhairavi in its classical form may only be played in the morning, whereas in its Thumri version it may be played at other times. Raga Sura Malhar has a festive mood for the monsoon season and so on.

When ragas are played at the correct time and occasion, they have a harmonising and orderly influence on the listener and the surroundings. This has even been seen in experiments on cells isolated in nutritive solution in a Petri dish. The effects can be felt personally, through studies or by feeling the doshas during ayurvedic pulse diagnosis.

The ancient vedic method of sound therapy, where vedic mantras are recited for specific regions of the body, is used to promote healing. In the same way the ragas of Indian classical music can also be used for certain illnesses and problems. This knowledge already existed in texts such as the Sangita Ratnakara and has been recently rediscovered and investigated more and more.

These ragas have been specially produced with the aim to harmonise the doshas, as described in Ayurveda. These doshas can quickly become imbalanced due to daily and seasonal influences, as well as changes in life style and diet.

We all know that music can be a powerful way to change your mood. Music can also be a powerful way to harmonize yourself when stress leaves you out of balance, unable to relax fully, or drained of vitality and joy.

Finding a healthy balance is the foundation of Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old healing tradition of India. Ayurveda teaches that human beings are made up of three essential qualities, or doshas, called vata, pitta, and kapha. Only when these qualities are in harmony with one another can you experience radiant health, abundant energy, and the full expression of your potential.

Music is a universal language. It influences all levels of human existence. It is a medium for communication, which can be both a pleasant and healing experience.

In Ayurveda, music is not only used as a pleasant medium of communication but also as a very powerful healing experience. The Ayurveda music therapy is unique. It specialises in the use of music for the treatment of both mental disabilities and physical discomfort.

We can see that the Ayurvedic understanding of sound is ancient and intuitive, with deep involvement in our spiritual being and the bodies we occupy.

INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC AS RECEPTIVE MUSIC THERAPY IMPROVES TRIDOSHIC BALANCE AND MAJOR DEPRESSION IN A PREGNANT WOMAN

Each of us has a unique connection to music. Most of us experience the affects music has on our mind and body daily. Ayurveda teaches that using music according to our"type" gives us a deeper ability to impact our balance state of health and wellness. The Ayurvedic types, or doshas govern all the physiological and psychological functions of an individual. Determining your inherent dosha is important in finding the right music for you to play, create or simply enjoy. Once you have determined your particular dosha, you can follow these guidelines to select the kind of music that is best suited for you in healing.

Music for a Vata Type: In general a Vata person or someone who is experiencing a Vata imbalance is good to listen or play instruments with soft, low and mellow tones, such as music with the guitar, mandolin, bass, violin and wind instruments. 

Music for Pitta Type: Focus on rhythmic soft music with a middle tone. This includes instruments such as flute, clarinet, saxophone and mouth organ. String instruments that are balancing for Pitta are the violin. All types of percussion that are gentle are also very balancing

Music for Kapha Type: Kapha wants to focus on energizing music with a solid bass and higher tones. All types of drums such as the Indian dholak and tabla, African Congo and water drum. Bells, chimes, electric keyboard and piano are all great instruments for a Kapha person to learn to play.