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Dec 11, 2015 09:07am

What is RAGA Therapy
Blog by Dr Anadi Sahoo

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. A Raga is
the sequence of selected notes (swaras) that lend appropriate ‘mood’ or emotion in a selective
combination.

It’s a yoga system through the medium of sonorous sounds. Depending on its nature, a raga
could induce or intensify joy or sorrow, violence or peace, and it is this quality which forms the
basis for musical application. Thus, a whole range of emotions and their nuances could be
captured and communicated within certain melodies.

Playing, performing and even listening to appropriate ragas can work as a medicine. To be
rendered effective, Ragas are used in a combination with Ayurveda, the ancient science of
Vedic healing. A Raga must be played or sung to a patient keeping in mind his/her physical
nature of vata, pitta or kapha. The time assigned to the Raga during the day or night is also
important. Moreover, it is to be seen whether the time of the day or night is naturally suited to
vata, pitta and kapha.
There are 72 raagas, which are known as the Melakarta ragas (Parant raagas) from which other
ragas known as the Janya ragas are obtained. Neural research proves that the 72 raagas can
control 72 nerves in the human body. Singing or performing a Raga, when bound to its
specifications (lakshanas) and with purity in pitch (swara shuddi) gives the performer complete
control on the corresponding nerve. Ragas Ahirbhairav and Todi are prescribed for patients
suffering from hypertension. Carnatic ragas like Punnagavarali and Sahana are useful to calm
the mind and control anger. Living systems show sensitivity to specific radiant energies – be it
acoustical, magnetic or electro-magnetic. As the impact of music could be easily gauged on
emotions and thereby on mind, it can be used as a tool to control the physiological,
psychological and even social activities of the patients.

Indian classical music can be classified into two forms: kalpita sangita or composition, which is
previously conceived, memorized, practised and rendered and manodharma sangita or the
music extemporised and performed. The latter can be equated to the honey-mooner’s first night
as it conceives both spontaneity and improvisation. It is fresh and natural as it is created almost
on the spot and rendered instantly on the spur of the moment. The ancient Hindus had relied on
music for its curative role: the chanting and toning involved in Veda mantras in praise of God
have been used from time immemorial as a cure for several disharmonies in the individual as
well as his environment. Several sects of ‘bhakti’ such as Chaitanya sampradaya, Vallabha
sampradaya have all accorded priority to music. Historical records too indicate that one Haridas
Swami who was the guru of the famous musician in Akbar’s time, Tan Sen is credited with the
recovery of one of the queens of the Emperor with a selected raga.
There are three kinds of energy acting in our body: Prana, Apana and Samana.

Prana, the positive energy, acts upward. In our body, it moves blood, hormones and every thing
upwards, including our breath. In our mind, it gives love, hope and other positive emotions.
Apana, the negative energy, acts downward. In our body, it moves food, blood, hormones and
every thing downwards, including our breath. In our mind, it gives hatred, despair and other
negative emotions. Samana, the neutral energy, balances both Prana and Apana. In our body, it
balances blood, hormones and every thing, including our breath. In our mind, it gives balance,
detachment and other neutral emotions. Swara 'Pa' stimulates Samana and restores balance
and coordination in our body and mind. Dha, Ni and upper octave swaras stimulate Prana. Ma,
Ga, Re and lower octave swaras stimulate Apana.

Apana, though negative, removes urine, semen etc and helps excretory and reproductive
systems of our body. In our mind too, Apana helps us by feeling the complete range of emotions
and thus gain a control over or get rid of them. Prana and Apana acting in opposite directions,
restore equilibrium in our body and mind and thus in our life.
Mohanam or Bhoop Raga : Ragatherapy happens more in the gaps between the swaras than in
the swara itself. In meditation bliss is experienced when thoughts don't arise. So meditation
happens in between two thoughts, in the gap. Longer the gap, more the bliss. This bliss created
by the gap heals painful memories and thus the diseases created by them. In Ragatherapy too,
the gap between the swaras creates gap between two consecutive thoughts and healing occurs.
Apart from the normal gaps between the ragas having all the seven swaras, ragas having lesser
swaras have more gaps and thus have more healing powers and more attractive to us. In
Mohanam the gaps created by the absence of the swaras 'ma' and 'ni', creates two vacuum
zones where healing occurs.

The swara 'ma' vibrates in the heart chakra and creates love and the entire range of emotions,
which includes negative emotions too, depending on the listener.

The absence of the swara 'ma', annihilates all the emotions including the negative ones. Thus
this raga gives happiness and elates the listener. The swara 'ni' vibrates in the crown chakra
and induces a feeling of surrender. The absence of the swara 'ni', removes this surrender and
thus makes us more responsible. Thus this raga creates self-esteem and self sufficiency.
Swaras re, ga, pa and dha of this raga improves ovaries, pancreas, ENT and eyesight. Each
swara has a quality which is experienced by us when it is sung. 'Sa' swara induces reasoning.
'Re' swara induces beauty. 'Ga' swara induces joy. 'Ma' swara induces love. 'Pa' swara induces
detachment. 'Dha' swara induces powers. 'Ni' sears induces surrender. These seven qualities
are the seven stages we undergo every seven years.
When a child is born, 'sa' swara vibrates in it and the reasoning power is induced in it. That's
why a child is asking many questions continuously nonstop. Bring rainbow into your kitchen with
colorful vegetables. Color represents energy and thus make sure that cooking doesn't make
them colorless. Violet vegetables have the swara 'ni' vibrating in them and they nourish your
brain and nervous system. Indigo vegetables have the swara 'dha' vibrating in them and they
nourish your eyes. Blue vegetables have the swara 'pa' vibrating in them and they nourish your
ear, nose and throat and improve your vocal card. Green vegetables have the swara 'ma'
vibrating in them and they nourish your heart and lungs. Yellow vegetables have the swara 'ga'
vibrating in them and they nourish your stomach, liver and pancreas. Orange vegetables have
the swara 're'' vibrating in them and they nourish your urinary and ovary system.

Red vegetables have the swara 'sa' vibrating in them and they nourish your sexual organs and
anus.

All flowers are not the same, they represent various moods and symbolize many sentiments of
the world. A violet lotus symbolizes highest in awareness and consciousness. The swara 'ni'
vibrates in it. If you smell this flower and sing 'ni' based ragas, brain and nerve problems can be
healed. Cholera and bronchitis can be healed with a tea made with pink lotus flowers. Drink tea
made with the petals of carnation flowers and sing 'dha' based ragas. You can heal stress
related and psychological problems. Drink tea made with blue lobelia and sing 'pa' based ragas.
You can heal cough, cold, fever and improve your vocal cord. If you smell a white jasmine and
sing 'ma' based ragas, loneliness and the related psychological problems can be healed. Tea
made with jasmine petals can heal digestive disorders and ulcers. If you eat sunflower seeds,
smell the flower and sing 'ga' based ragas, sugar problems can be healed. If you place paste
made with orange Marigold flowers on a damaged skin and sing "re' based ragas, it will be
healed. Tea made with this flower, can heal stomach problems. If you smell a red rose, taste the
petals and sing the swara 'sa', childless issues will be healed. A fruit, seed represents the
highest stage of consciousness in a plant. 'Ni' swara vibrates in it. If you want your tree to bear
fruit, recite the swara 'ni' near it. The trunk of a tree represents 'sa', the branches 're', the twig
'ga', the leaf 'ma', the stalk of a flower 'pa' and the flower 'dha'. When a flower becomes a fruit, it
becomes 'ni'. If you want your garden to become colorful with flowers, sing the swara 'dha' or
dha based ragas.
How to receive positive energy: Like any other forms of energy, Prana or the positive energy is
transmitted from a higher to a lower source. People who are above fourth stage of
consciousness are called healers, whether they are aware or unaware of the healing process.
Healers transmit positive energy to a person of lower energy, automatically whether they like it
or not. This is a scientific, physical process, like a lightning transfers energy from sky to earth.
Healers can protect themselves from this transfer by singing 're' or 'ga' based ragas or lower
octave swaras. You can receive positive energy by getting in touch with healers over phone, via
internet or in person. Or just by thinking about them.

How to handle negative energy: Like any other forms of energy, Apana or the negative energy is
transmitted from a higher to a lower source.

If a person has accumulated more negative energy, s/he will release it wherever s/he goes, to a
person with lower energy. S/he will always find a suitable reason to transmit this negative
energy. S/he may get angry, lament or even praise the other person, during which the negative
energy is transmitted via a Bluetooth-like connection. Distance does not matter in this
transmission. The other person may be in the next room, next home or even in the next country.
The person with higher negative energy is called a sucker, because s/he will receive or suck
positive energy from the other person in this process. You can protect yourself from a sucker by
avoiding any contact or communication with him/ her. If the sucker happened to be your close
friend or relative whom you can not avoid, you can sing 'ma' based ragas loudly or silently to
yourself. 'Ma' based ragas like Madhyamavathy, protect your heart from getting infected with
negative energy. At the same time, they pacify the sucker and relieve him/ her from the negative
energy by releasing it to the Universal Energy Source. Healers also do the same when healing a
sucker. They can also protect themselves by first grounding the sucker by helping him/ her bare
feet touch the ground. Healers can also start the session by physically or mentally touching the
feet of the sucker, which locks his/ her energy release.
Hindholam Raga: In Hindholam, the gaps created by the absence of the swaras 'Re' and 'Pa',
creates two vacuum zones where healing occurs. The swara 'Re' vibrates in the swadhishtana
chakra and creates a sense of beauty. The absence of the swara 're', gives a power to detach
from beauty and outwardly appearance. Thus this raga gives us a power to appreciate the inner
beauty. The swara 'pa' vibrates in the throat chakra and gives detachment from family and
relationships. The absence of the swara 'pa', removes the side effects of detachment. Thus this
raga helps us to maintain the perfect distance from others and protects us from attachments.

About swara gaps: Ragatherapy happens more in the gaps between the swaras than in the
swara itself. In meditation bliss is experienced when thoughts don't arise. So meditation
happens in between two thoughts, in the gap. Longer the gap, more the bliss.

This bliss created by the gap heals painful memories and thus the diseases created by them. In
Ragatherapy too, the gap between the swaras creates gap between two consecutive thoughts
and healing occurs. Apart from the normal gaps between the ragas having all the seven swaras,
ragas having lesser swaras have more gaps and thus have more healing powers and more
attractive to us. This raga is good for diabetic care, heart and lung diseases.
Hamsadhvani Raga : In Hamsadhvani, the gaps created by the absence of the swaras 'Ma' and
'Dha', creates two vacuum zones where healing occurs. The swara 'Ma' vibrates in the heart
chakra and creates love and peace. The absence of the swara 'Ma', gives a power to detach
from attachments and relationships. Thus this raga gives an emotional control and an
intellectual stability the listener. The swara 'Dha' vibrates in the brow chakra and gives occult
powers. The absence of the swara 'Dha', gives a power to detach from these occult powers and
rise above them. Thus this raga makes us feel grounded and emotionally stable.

Some Therapeutic Ragas : Some ragas like Darbari Kanhada, Kamaj and Pooriya are found to
help in defusing mental tension, particularly in the case of hysterics. For those who suffer from
hypertension, ragas such as Ahirbhairav, Pooriya and Todi are prescribed.

To control anger and bring down the violence within, Carnatic ragas like Punnagavarali, Sahana
etc. do come handy. This author, experimenting on the impact of raga on mentally-retarded
(MR) children have noticed that it is the right combination of rhythms and tempo, which also
affect the quality of a raga. Not only psychological impact, but also somatic or physiological
impact of ragas has come to light in some recent works. (Sairam, 2004b). For instance,
stomach-related disorders are said to be cured with some Hindustani Ragas such as Deepak
(acidity) , Gunkali and Jaunpuri ( constipation) and Malkauns or Hindolam (intestinal gas and for
controlling fevers). Fevers like malaria are also said to be controlled by the ragas like Marva. For
headaches, relaxing with the ragas like Durbari Kanada, Jayjaywanti and Sohni is said to be
beneficial.
The immense potential of the power of Shabda (cosmic flow of sound) hidden in music was well
recognised by the ancient Indian sages and they had devised several musical patterns
emanating from the "Omkara" for chanting of the Vedic hymns and for distinct spiritual effects.
The Shastric schools of music discovered musical octave (sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni, sa)
indwelling in the subtle sounds of Nature and invented the basic classical ragas for activating
specific streams of natural powers and effects; a wide variety of musical compositions were
generated consequently. Ever since then music has been an integral part of human culture with
varied applications and forms. Despite its degeneration into the noisy and destructive kinds of
so-called ’modern music’, the creative and soothing role of music has not lost its prominence.
The last few decades have seen revival of classical Indian and western music in a big way
through increasing interest of researchers in music therapy.

He original ragas of the Indian classical music (Shastric Music) are created according to the
deep knowledge of harmonious consonance between the seven swaras and chakras. This is
why shastric musical compositions are found to have significant positive effect on the mind-body
system and also have the potential to awaken the otherwise dormant faculties. There are
several historical examples of the immense remedial power of the shastric ragas. For instance,
in 1933, when the Italian dictator Mussolini was terribly suffering from insomnia, no medicine or
therapeutic mode could help him get sleep. Pt. Omkarnath Thakur, a great shastric musician
was visiting Europe around that time. When he heard of Mussolini’s affliction, he agreed to
perform remedial musical programme to allay the latter’s sufferings. His performance of the raga
puriya indeed worked magically and Mussolini went into deep sleep within half-an-hour. This
and similar incidents attracted the attention of many contemporary musicians, scientists and
physicians and triggered research in music therapy.
The empirical studies on therapeutic evaluation of the classical ragas have shown interesting
results. Singing or engrossed listening of Raga Bhairavi has been found to uproot the diseases
of kapha dosha e.g. asthma, chronic cold, cough, tuberculosis, some of the sinus and chest
related problems etc. Raga Asavari is effective in eliminating the impurities of blood and related
diseases. Raga Malhar pacifies anger, excessive mental excitements and mental instability.
Raga Saurat and raga Jaijaivanti have also been found effective in curing mental disorders and
calming the mind. Raga Hindola helps sharpening the memory and focussing mental
concentration. It has been proved effective in curing liver ailments. Music Therapy is especially
effective in three key medical areas.

1. Pain, anxiety and depression,

2. Mental, emotional and physical handicaps,

3. Neurological disorders & mesothelioma.

It has also been found that listening to various appropriate music lowers Blood Pressure,
stabilizes irregular heart rate, reduces pre-treatment anxiety, relieves depression and related
mental ailments, enhances concentration, reduces the need for sedatives and pain drugs (in an
event of surgery), reduces vomiting tendency after chemotherapy and also improves stability of
those with Parkinson's disease and mesothelioma.

The Appolo hospital group, the largest of its kind in Asia is now having a Medical Music Therapy
course and obviously, it is the first of its kind in asia.
The seven basic swaras (musical notes) of the musical octave have a one-to-one
correspondence with these chakras (nuclei of subtle energy). The lower most (in the kava
equina region along the erect endocrine column), viz., the Muladhara Chakra is associated with
the swara "sa"; that means, the practice of chanting this particular musical note will have impact
on awakening or activation of this particular chakra. Similarly, the chakras successively upwards
in this direction namely, the Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Agya and the
top-most Sahastrara Chakra… have correspondence respectively with the swaras "re", "ga"
"ma", "pa", "dha" and "ni". Significantly, the order of the compositions of these swaras in the
"aroha" (ascending) and "avaroha" (descending) patterns of the Shastric musical tunes also
match with the top-down (from Sahastrara to Muladhara) and bottom-up (from Muladhara to
Sahastrara) directions of the flow of energy.

Ancient Indian music has devised a special therapy based on the 72 ragas. It is appropriate to
define Raga at this point. Raga is neither melody alone, not notes; neither scale nor mode. It's
an ensemble of all these.According to an ancient Indian text, Swara Shastra, the seventy-two
melakarta ragas (parent ragas) control seventy-two important nerves in the body. It is believed
that a person who sings/performs a raga bound to the raga specifications (lakshanas) and with
purity in pitch (swara shuddi) will have complete control on the corresponding nerve. To quote a
few, for those who suffer from hypertension, ragas such as Ahirbhairav and Todi are prescribed.
To control anger and bring down violence within oneself, Carnatic ragas like Punnagavarali,
Sahana and so on, come handy. Not only psychological, but the somatic or physiological impact
of ragas have come to light in recent research. For instance, stomach-related disorders are said
to be cured with some Hindustani ragas such as Deepak (acidity) and Jaunpuri (constipation)
and Malkauns or Hindolam (intestinal gas and fever). Simple iterative musical rhythms with low
pitched swaras, as in bhajans are capable of relaxation, as observed with the alpha-levels of the
brain waves. They may also lead to favourable hormonal changes in the system.
Hypertension is another health ailment that responds positively to music. Ragas such as
Ahirbhairav and Todi have been recommended for patients with high blood pressure. On the
other hand, low blood pressure is healed with the feminine Raga Malkauns, believed to have
supernatural energy. Asavari builds confidence to be heard in the Morning, Bageshri cures
insomnia to be heard in the Night, Basant Bahar cures Gall Stones to be heard in the Morning,
Bhim palas cures Anxiety, Hypertension to be heard in the Afternoon, Darbari is a Sedative to
be heard in the Night, Gurjari Todi cures Cough to be heard in the Morning, Kedar cures
Headache ,Common Cold, Cough, Asthma to be heard in the Night, Puriya cures Colitis,
Anaemia, Hypertension to be heard in the Evening

Yaman cures Rheumatic Arthritis to be heard in the Evening.

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