Tuesday, November 20, 2007

How Music Cures: An Introduction by Ankita Gupta


Ankita Gupta teaches Music and her proposed doctoral thesis is on the interface between music and technology. The piece was written originally in Hindi and has been translated by freesepeech.

1

With the world so proudly into the twenty first century and science scaling newer heights everyday….with medical science making a magical breakthrough every now and again, it might not sound very convincing that music, on its own, can cure many diseases. Yet, its true and you may trust me for saying so. Ironically the increasing popularity of music therapy in the west has made Indians curious though they were the ones who pioneered it.

2

Music is the most developed and refined form of phonology and is called ‘nada’ by the people in music, literature and spiritualism. ‘Nada Brahma’ has a supreme significance in our lives. In Vedic India, chanting aloud helped cure illnesses of physical and spiritual kinds.

3

Ayurveda believes that the brain controls the body. Diseases caused by physical reactions too have a connection with the sensation of the nerves. This sensation is effected by various melodies as per their characteristics. The sound of music brings about a comforting change in the functions of the body which subsequently leads to curing. Both Indian and western medical sciences are of the opinion that 90% diseases are caused by psychological factors. As music has an infinite power to charge, to slacken and to lyricize a person, by playing antagonist sounds or ragas formed of such antagonist sounds the emotions which originate a certain disease can be suppressed. That what music therapy is at its core value.

4

But it can not work without faith in music and its therapeutic powers. The concerned raga should be listened to three times a day. In case of transferable diseases, the frequency should be increased. While listening to, one should try to be free of tension and focused and the ragas should be played in soft, slow tones.

5

Diseases and RAGAS: Tune In

Fevers of all Kinds: Hindol, Makha, Pooriya, Bhairav and Asawari

High Fever: Malkons, Basant Bahar

Cough-related Diseases, Constipation: Bhairav and Asawari

Typhoid: Hindol, Marva, Pooriya

High Blood Pressure: Poorvi, Todi, Multani

Pains of All Kinds: Peelu, Malkons, Todi, Multani, Paraz, Sohani

Heart Problem: Darbari Kanhara

Cancer: Shree, Nayaki Kanhara, Sindhu Bhairavi

Migraine: Darbari Kanhara, Jai Jayawanti, Sohani

Diabetes: Jaunpuri, Jai Jayawanti

Mental Diseases: Lalit, Kedar

Fear: Sohani, Pooriya

Eyes: Kaunsi Kanhara, Multani





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