Monday, April 23, 2007

Music Therapy

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.

Modern science and medicine are now rediscovering the healing powers of music. And music therapy -- the specialized use of music in treating persons with special needs in mental and physical health, rehabilitation and special education -- is gaining ground. In the West it is now an accepted form of treatment even within orthodox medical practice.

Music is an age-old part of Ayurveda, the holistic science which promotes a happy and healthy lifestyle. From time immemorial, music has been a part of Indian culture. In the Vedas too, music has an important place. The 'Samveda' is full of music. The doshas like Vata, Pitta and Kapha can be controlled effectively by Music Therapy. Great composers of Indian classical music have attempted music therapy down the years. Legend has it that classical music maestro Thyagaraja brought a dead person back to life with his composition.

It is believed that music stimulates the pituitary gland, whose secretions affect the nervous system and the flow of blood. It is believed that for healing with music, it is necessary to vibrate the cells of the body, for it is through these vibrations that the diseased person's consciousness can be changed effectively to promote health. The right kind of music helps one relax and refresh. Even during the course of working, light music improves efficiency. Listening to music helps control negative aspects of our personalities like worry, bias and anger. In addition, it can help cure headache, abdominal pain and tension. Music therapy is one of the most effective ways of controlling emotions, blood pressure and restoring the functioning of the liver.

The Raga Research Centre in Chennai,India. is currently making a comprehensive study of Indian ragas and evaluating their therapeutic potential with the help of musicians, doctors and psychiatrists. It is believed that classical Indian ragas can benefit a whole host of conditions ranging from insomnia, high and low blood pressure to schizophrenia and epilepsy.

It is believed that there are other ragas that can help fight ageing and pain, too.

Music is capable of improving happiness, peace, health and concentration. It is however important to know the method and duration for which Music Therapy is to be administered. This knowledge can be obtained through regular experiments and experience. The first step towards this is the correct diagnosis of the disease and then the selection of the precise raga that will be helpful. Procedure, discipline and a systematic method will help achieve this goal.

Music can play an effective role in helping us lead better, fruitful lives. Listening to specific kinds of music at specific times of the day has been shown to be helpful in maintaining good health. Indian music, with its many Ragas, is known to be particularly therapeutic value. The curative power of music emanates from the resonance of certain ragas on hormonal and glandular functions which produce secretions that keep the body balanced and infection free.

RAG-MALA

Raga

Disease(s) it helps cure

Ahir Bhairav

Indigestion
Rheumatic Arthritis
Hypertension

Asavari

to build confidence

Bageshri

insomnia

Basant Bahar

Gall Stones (Cholecystitis)

Bhairavi

Rheumatic Arthritis
Sinusitis
encourages detachment

Bhim palas

Anxity, Hypertension

Brindabani Sarang

Depression

Chandrakauns

Anorexia

Darbari

Sedetive

Darbari Kanada

Headache
Asthama

Deepak

Indigestion
Anorexia
Hyperacidity
Gall Stones(Cholecystitis)

Gujari Todi

Cough

Gunakali

Rheumatic Arthritis
Constipation
Headache
Piles or Hemorrhoids

Hindol

Rheumatic Arthritis , Spondilitis
Backache
Hypertension

Jaunpuri

Intestinal Gas
Diarrhoea
Constipation

Jaijaiwanti

Rheumatic Arthritis
Diarrhoea
Headache

Kafi

Sleep disorders

Kausi Kanada

Hypertension
Common Cold

Kedar

Headache
Common Cold
Cough
Asthma

Khamaj

Sleep disorders

Madhuvanti

Piles or Hemorrhoids

Malkauns

Intestinal Gas

Malhar

Asthma

Marwa

Indigestion
Hyperacidity

Nat Bhairav

Indigestion
Rheumatic Arthritis
Colitis

Puriya

Colitis
Anaemia
Hypertension

Puriya Dhanashri

Anaemia

Ramkali

Colitis
Piles or Hemorrhoids

Shree

Anorexia
Common Cold
Cough
Asthma

Shudh Sarang

Anorexia
Gall Stones (Cholecystitis)

Shyam Kalyan

Cough
Asthma

Sohani

Headache

Yaman

Rheumatic Arthritis

RAGA -TIME ASSOCIATION

One of the unique characteristics of Indian music is the assignment of definite times of the day and night for performing Raga melodies. It is believed that only in this period the Raga appears to be at the height of its melodic beauty and majestic splendor. There are some Ragas which are very attractive in the early hours of the mornings; others which appeal in the evenings, yet others which spread their fragrance only near the midnight hour.
This connection of time of the day or night, with the Raga or Raginis is based on daily cycle of changes that occur in our own body and mind which are constantly undergoing subtle changes in that different moments of the day arouse and stimulate different moods and emotions.
Each Raga or Ragini is associated with a definite mood or sentiment that nature arouses in human beings. The ancient musicologists were particularly interested in the effects of musical notes, how it effected and enhanced human behavior. Music had the power to cure, to make you feel happy, sad, disgusted and so on. Extensive research was carried out to find out these effects. This formed the basis of time theory as we know it today.
It is believed that the human body is dominated by the three Doshas - Kaph , Pitta and Vata . These elements work in a cyclic order of rise and fall during the 24 hour period. Also, the reaction of these three elements differ with the seasons.Hence it is said that performing or listening to a raga at the proper allotted time can affect the health of human beings.

Raga and Day Time

The following schedule will summarize the specific time periods.
The 24 hour period is divided into 8 beats(Prahar) each three hours long, as follows:

  1. 1. 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. first beat of the day. Daybreak; Early Morning; Morning;
  2. 2. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 2nd beat of the day. Late Morning; Noon; Early Afternoon;
  3. 3. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. 3rd beat of the day. Afternoon; Late Afternoon;
  4. 4. 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. 4th beat of the day. Evening Twilight; Dusk (sunset);
  5. 5. 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. first beat of the night. Evening; Late Evening;
  6. 6. 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. 2nd beat of the night. Night; Midnight;
  7. 7. 1 a.m. - 4 a.m. 3rd beat of the night. Late Night
  8. 8. 4 a.m. - 7 a.m. 4th beat of the night. Early Dawn; Dawn (before sunrise);

Simillarly Everyday two cycles of change pass through our body, each bringing a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha predominance.
The approximate times of these cycles are as follows:
First cycle:

  • 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. - Kapha
  • 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. - Pitta
  • 2 P.M. to 6 P.M. - Vata

Second cycle:

  • 6 P.M. to 10 P.M. - Kapha
  • 10 P.M. to 2 P.M. - Pitta
  • 2 A.M to 6 P.M. - Vata

Raga and Ritu(Seasons)

There are Ragas associated with the rainy season,Varsha (Raga Megha and Raga Malhar), the autumn season,Basant (Raga Basant) and the spring season (Raga Bahar). Seasonal Ragas can be sung and played any time of the day and night during the season allotted to them. The obligation of time in case of such melodies is relaxed.
Vasanta Ritu (Spring Season)
In this season, increased kapha is liquified by the heat of sun which causes diminished agni (digestive activity) causing diseases
Grishma Ritu (Summer Season)
In this season, Sunrays become powerful. Kapha decreases vata increases day by day
Sharat Ritu (Autumn Season)
Sudden exposed to sunlight after cold season aggravates pita.

Dosha

Accumulation

Vitiation

Diminution

Kapha

Shishir

Vasant

Grishma

Pitta

Grishma

Varsha

Sharad

Vata

Varsha

Sharad

Hemant


Raga and Ritu(Seasons) Association :-
Raga Ritu
Bhairav Shishir
Hindol Vasant
Deepak Grishma
Megh Varsha
Malkans Sharad
Shree Hemant


Verious Ragas and there Performance Timings:

Raaga

Thaat

Performance Time

Piloo

Kafi

Any Time

Kafi

Kafi

Any Time

Bhairavi

Bhairavi

Any Time

Miyan Malhar

Kafi

Monsoon

Gunkri

Bhairav

Morning

Ahir Bhairav

Bhairav

Morning

Asavari

Morning

Basant

Poorvi

Morning

Bhairav

Bhairav

Morning

Desi

Asavari

Morning

Sohni

Marwa

Morning

Gujari Todi

Todi

Morning

Nat Bhairav

Bhairav

Morning

Jaunpuri

Asavari

Morning

Hindol

Kalyan

Morning

Todi

Todi

Morning

Vrindavani Sarang

Kafi

Afternoon

Shuddh Sarang

Kalyan

Afternoon

Poorvi

Poorvi

Afternoon

Madhuvanti

Todi

Afternoon

Bhimpalasi

Kafi

Afternoon

Bhoopali

Kalyan

Evening

Yaman Kalyan

Kalyan

Evening

Hansdhwani

Bilawal

Evening

Khamaj

Khamaj

Evening

Shyam Kalyan

Kalyan

Evening

Yaman

Kalyan

Evening

Puriya Dhanashri

Poorvi

Evening

Puriya

Marwa

Evening

Marwa

Marwa

Evening

Shree

Poorvi

Evening

Bahar

Kafi

Night

Bageshri

Kafi

Night

Malhar

Kafi

Night

Malkauns

Bhairavi

Night

Chandrakauns

Night

Kedar

Kalyan

Night

Darbari

Asavari

Night

Jaijaiwanti

Khamaj

Night


SHUKDEV PANDEY

EC

SEM – II

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