It’s always a pleasure to visit the city of Chennai, in the south of India (earlier the city was called as Madras). Chennai is the cultural capital of India and this city is distinctly different from any other city in India in terms of traditions. South Indian classical music (also called Carnatic Music), dance and other art forms are still popular in the city and the city plays a very important role by providing platforms to indulge in such art and culture.
Chennai hosts the annual Music festival for Carnatic music during mid-December to mid-January, in which over 2000 artists participate. The month long festival which is held at various places in the city attracts famous artistes and thousands of performing art enthusiasts across South India. In fact, the Music festival also called Music season is an annul ritual amongst the expatriate Indians and scholars, who come from across the globe to participate in the festival.
All traditions across the world have music as an integral part of their culture or religion in form of hymns, prayers, songs and chants — all leading to uplifting the soul. Similarly Carnatic music is considered the best medium to pay homage to the Gods. This makes the festival present a blend of both melody and divinity.
Attending various concerts, I was so touched to see how Carnatic music by these extraordinary musicians created happiness in the hearts of the audience. The audience was not only listening to the music with their ears but with every cell in their body. It was indeed wonderfully fulfilling and refreshing. Even after leaving the music hall, I experienced deep peace and joy through this divine music. Music creates an incredible feeling of wellness and deep relaxation. It is so balancing! For me this is healing music. These are healing sounds. It expands my consciousness, my awareness.
Music is so holistic that it has positive effects on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of one’s being. Music is now an accepted form of therapy along with conventional medical treatment. In fact, benefits of music therapy have been scientifically researched across the world.
In India, music therapy is called ‘raga chikitsa’ and is mentioned in Ayurveda as one of the ways to restore the imbalances of the body which is considered the root of all diseases. Composers of Indian classical music offered music therapy especially for the mind through ragas and mantras. The concept of raga, which is unique to Indian music, blends musical notes with specific time periods, to either intensify or pacify the emotions and thus has tremendous therapeutic value. Each Raga has a unique structure which combines both fixed elements and infinite possibilities of variation, allowing the musician to bring out all the subtle values of the frequencies present at that time of the day. In fact, modern science has proved how every cell of the body has its own vibrational frequency. When we listen to a particular music which resonates with that frequency, it activates the vital energy of that cell and thus stimulates deep-rooted rejuvenation.
I always recommend my clients to listen to some form of music daily. You can listen to music while traveling, working at your desk, while asleep by the bed side, in the morning as you are getting ready for the day, while dining, reading a book or just let the music play in the background as you go around doing your daily chores. Even when no one is present to listen, playing the music 24 hours a day in your home or workplace generates a peaceful, soothing atmosphere that uplifts the whole environment. Though it is best to listen to music in a comfortable position-sitting or lying down-with the eyes closed.
To begin with, you can listen to the pacifying melodies of nature, which will help revitalize your body, mind and spirit. Or listen to upbeat yet relaxing music like Buddha Bar or Tantra Lounge, etc. You can listen to eclectic world music which has a spiritual composition to it like; Native American Indian flute solos, Sufi music, tribal African drumming and rhythms. However, listening to Indian classical music or healing sounds like Sanskrit ‘mantras’ or Zen Buddhist chanting, is the most holistic mode of treatment in combating anxiety, stress, fear, high blood pressure, depression, trauma, addiction and even suicidal tendencies. This kind of gentle music is comforting, gradually slows heartbeat, helps to filter out distractions and encourages heightened levels of perception and creativity. The music is an ideal background sound to any activity and a MUST in stress-related environment.
So, give your body and mind the good rest it deserves. Listen to some healing music now!
Am posting a very soothing and therapeutic Indian chant called 'Vandana Trayee'. Happy listening! Happy healing!
Chennai hosts the annual Music festival for Carnatic music during mid-December to mid-January, in which over 2000 artists participate. The month long festival which is held at various places in the city attracts famous artistes and thousands of performing art enthusiasts across South India. In fact, the Music festival also called Music season is an annul ritual amongst the expatriate Indians and scholars, who come from across the globe to participate in the festival.
All traditions across the world have music as an integral part of their culture or religion in form of hymns, prayers, songs and chants — all leading to uplifting the soul. Similarly Carnatic music is considered the best medium to pay homage to the Gods. This makes the festival present a blend of both melody and divinity.
Attending various concerts, I was so touched to see how Carnatic music by these extraordinary musicians created happiness in the hearts of the audience. The audience was not only listening to the music with their ears but with every cell in their body. It was indeed wonderfully fulfilling and refreshing. Even after leaving the music hall, I experienced deep peace and joy through this divine music. Music creates an incredible feeling of wellness and deep relaxation. It is so balancing! For me this is healing music. These are healing sounds. It expands my consciousness, my awareness.
Music is so holistic that it has positive effects on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of one’s being. Music is now an accepted form of therapy along with conventional medical treatment. In fact, benefits of music therapy have been scientifically researched across the world.
In India, music therapy is called ‘raga chikitsa’ and is mentioned in Ayurveda as one of the ways to restore the imbalances of the body which is considered the root of all diseases. Composers of Indian classical music offered music therapy especially for the mind through ragas and mantras. The concept of raga, which is unique to Indian music, blends musical notes with specific time periods, to either intensify or pacify the emotions and thus has tremendous therapeutic value. Each Raga has a unique structure which combines both fixed elements and infinite possibilities of variation, allowing the musician to bring out all the subtle values of the frequencies present at that time of the day. In fact, modern science has proved how every cell of the body has its own vibrational frequency. When we listen to a particular music which resonates with that frequency, it activates the vital energy of that cell and thus stimulates deep-rooted rejuvenation.
I always recommend my clients to listen to some form of music daily. You can listen to music while traveling, working at your desk, while asleep by the bed side, in the morning as you are getting ready for the day, while dining, reading a book or just let the music play in the background as you go around doing your daily chores. Even when no one is present to listen, playing the music 24 hours a day in your home or workplace generates a peaceful, soothing atmosphere that uplifts the whole environment. Though it is best to listen to music in a comfortable position-sitting or lying down-with the eyes closed.
To begin with, you can listen to the pacifying melodies of nature, which will help revitalize your body, mind and spirit. Or listen to upbeat yet relaxing music like Buddha Bar or Tantra Lounge, etc. You can listen to eclectic world music which has a spiritual composition to it like; Native American Indian flute solos, Sufi music, tribal African drumming and rhythms. However, listening to Indian classical music or healing sounds like Sanskrit ‘mantras’ or Zen Buddhist chanting, is the most holistic mode of treatment in combating anxiety, stress, fear, high blood pressure, depression, trauma, addiction and even suicidal tendencies. This kind of gentle music is comforting, gradually slows heartbeat, helps to filter out distractions and encourages heightened levels of perception and creativity. The music is an ideal background sound to any activity and a MUST in stress-related environment.
So, give your body and mind the good rest it deserves. Listen to some healing music now!
Am posting a very soothing and therapeutic Indian chant called 'Vandana Trayee'. Happy listening! Happy healing!
Listen to relaxtion music posted every week on my official website www.metronirvana.com This soothing music relieves stress and tension, improves your mood, boosts your energy levels and heals your soul.
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1 comment:
I would have to agree with your comments on this blog. Very well put the benefits of Music in our lives.
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