Spiritual Music: Palliative Effects Of Good Music  

By ANIL K RAJVANSHI  

Once, the gods became unhappy with the way human beings were conducting themselves. There was frequent strife, war and general anarchy in the world. Upset, the gods came to Earth and told its inhabitants that since they were turning destructive and could not live in amity, the time had come to put an end to their negative lives.

However, the gods wanted to give humans a chance - so they asked them to give one good reason why they should not be destroyed.

''We have produced great beings like Buddha, Christ and Prophet Mohammed, among others, and they have given us great teachings’’, said Earth’s inhabitants. The gods retorted that the maximum number of human killings have taken place in the name of religion. Humans then recounted the great technological inventions that humankind has produced to which the gods replied that there are still some two billion people living in tremendous hardship and poverty despite these inventions.

Then somebody said, ''But we have produced some great music’’. To which the gods expressed their wish to hear this music. The world’s music including Indian ragas and Western compositions by composers like Bach and Beethoven was played. After listening to the profound music, the gods were visibly moved. ''Enough’’, they said, ''you have indeed earned your freedom and right to live’’.

Great music moves humans and gods alike, deeply. Music calms the mind and produces a great sense of well being and euphoria. One also gets a similar experience during deep meditation and samadhi.

In the beginning was the Word. Almost all the great religions of the world talk about it. In Patanjali Yoga Darshan , Ishwara is defined as a special Being who is expressed by the original word (Pranav) . What that original word was nobody is sure though in major Yoga commentaries it is called OM . However, recently scientists have discovered that very soon after the Big Bang, and before anything else appeared in the Universe, primordial sound waves were produced. This could have formed the basis of Brahma Nad , mentioned in the Upanishads . Sound has, therefore, been with us throughout the evolutionary process and is an integral part of all our activities. Music is a product of sound and is, therefore, a natural outcome of this evolutionary process.

Music affects the brain at different levels. Our moods change with different types of music. However, at a deeper level, its effect is similar to that of meditation. This is probably why all great religions have stressed on music as a means for praying and meditation.

Indian classical music, one of the oldest musical systems of the world, has spiritual roots and traces its origins to Vedic hymns. Most Indian gods and goddesses are depicted carrying musical instruments. Similarly, in other religions also, musical chants, hymns and other forms of music have been used since ancient times to express the glory of God or to help focus the mind on the spiritual thoughts.

Recent Positron Emission Tomography (PET) studies conducted by scientists have shown that certain types of music activate neural pathways similar to those associated with euphoria and reward. These same pathways are activated in response to other pleasurable activities like eating and sex, which give emotional happiness. Similarly in deep meditation, the mind focuses on a single thought for a long time.

Thus when contemplation, reflection and samadhi (together called Sanyam according to Patanjali Yoga Darshan ) are done on a single thought then it produces the sense of well being and happiness. In this process a major portion of the 100 billion neurons of the brain are being used in a laser like fashion for a single thought. This deep meditation process helps stimulate or 'tickle’ the pituitary gland, which gives the feeling of well being. The exact mechanism, though, is still not understood.

When we hear soul stirring music, we feel good , very like what we feel during deep meditation. This is the principle of equivalence. The brain, therefore, appreciates and absorbs the music by creating the same complex thought pattern as that during meditation. Similar effects are also seen for different types of music, which stimulate feelings of anger, sadness and other emotions.

It is, therefore, quite possible that neurological studies on the effects of music will serve as a model for studying how brain works in general and at different levels of thought complexity.

Music can play an important role in building a compassionate and creative society. If we can regularly expose our children from an early age to good music, then it is possible that this will help to create a generation of compassionate, non- violent people. Music should, therefore, form an integral part of the school curriculum.

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See also: Spiritual Music, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)