The spectrum of Music

Music is always associated with religion and spiritualism. When you go on musing emotionally, your musing spontanesously becomes music. The very word ‘Rucha’ for the Vedic verses of Rigveda signifies such a process of music. Music besides making you rich with noble and inspiring thoughts creates liking (Ruchi) for religion and spiritualism.

To understand our great heritage of Indian Art and Culture, first we must make certain concepts clear. We should know the difference between religion and spirituality. Religion is our social and moral attitude whereas spirituality is self-development and inner growth. Our various professions and activities are different spokes in a wheel, that meet at the hub of the wheel; and that hub is religion.

In every profession we aim to prosper for the betterment. In arts and in music our aim is to achieve religious heights. If we look into the past lives of devotional poets and saints, we become convinced that their poetry is purely for religious betterment and also for moral uplift. Even our past musicians used to sing only to please and praise the God. Our social and moral attitude leads us to religious behaviour and individually it leads to spiritual bliss.

This rare angle of our life and particularly about music is due to the deep-rooted science of music and its great system of Ragas. Our ancient sages had by their yogic power visualized the power and quality of every note and its various effects through various combinations. No other music in the world has ever conceived such fantastic theory of Ragas according to time, mood and season. There are instances when our great musicians have created divine effects through their musical prowess.

An enlightening event has been documented when Lord Shree Swaminarayan had invited learned musicians of Gwalior and to cut down their over-bearing pride, He ordered one of his musician-saints to perform. To the surprise of all, the early morning atmosphere was created even though it was late afternoon!

Many such incidents can be quoted to establish the fact that our Indian Classical music is able to create magical results. Even plants and animals respond to the musical notes and their growth is enhanced. In today’s medical science, particularly in psychological disorders some of our Ragas have proved to be very effective, and it is a known fact that music can easily reduce our mental stress. Singing or listening to a tuneful Bhajan or chanting Swaminarayan Dhoon takes us away from this painful world (Maya) and puts us nearer to the God.

We should insist that our younger generation should listen to this great music. It is beyond any doubt that when they grow, they will achieve proper psychosomatic and somatopsychic balance. That is why our ancient Sanskrit verse declares:

Sahitya sangeet kalavihinaha,
Sakshat pashuha pucchavishanhinaha.

“A man without poetry, music and arts, is but an animal without its tail and horns".

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