Nadabdhim Sachchidanandam Sadgurum Tam Namamyaham
Sri Swamiji says, "Music is my religion, Music is my language,
Music is my soul and Music is my expression".
Music is a force that unites Humanity the world over. Music has for centuries been
known to have a pleasing appeal to both humans and animals. The key constituents
are Rhythm and Tone (Taala and Swara) in which actually inhere the potent effect
producing substance of music, The Vibrations.
NADA VIBRATIONS, THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
Vibration is basically the activity of Consciousness and it is Consciousness; which
is the cause of creation. Each vibration originating from its original source is
the same; it differs only in its tone and rhythm due to greater or lesser degree
of force behind it. On the plane of Nada (sound), vibration causes diversity of
tone. The vibrations become audible when they are massed together. Nada gives to
the Consciousness (Atma) an evidence of its existence, although it is part of Consciousness
itself, which has turned into Nada. In other words, the Consciousness bears witness
to its own voice. That is why it is said that Music is the expression of Soul.
There are two aspects of Vibrations, Fine and Gross,
having varied degrees.Some are perceived by the soul, some by the mind and some
by the eyes. What the soul perceives are the vibrations of the feelings; what the
mind conceives are the vibrations of thoughts; what the eyes see are the vibrations
appearing through the objects of the physical world. The mysticism
of music in the context of Meditation and Healing lies essentially in quality of
sound vibrations emanating from the rhythm and tone of music. And if
one knew what rhythm was needed for a particular individual in his trouble and despair,
what tone was needed and to what pitch that person's level of consciousness should
be raised, one would then be able to heal himself with music.
"MUSICAL NOTES have their effects on our body as the tunes correspond
to our Nerves". The knowledge about this is called Raga Ragini Vidya or Siddhi Vidya.
Musical Ragas (tunes) are said to help treatment of patients with afflictions of
physical and mental nature, in certain conditions.
A Long Quest: The Swamiji's quest began when he
was a child of eight. On May 26, 1942, in the small hamlet of Mekedatu, Jayalakshmi
and Narasimha Sastri were blessed with a baby boy. They named him Satyanarayana.
His parents were engrossed in spiritual practices and Satyanarayana grew up in this
atmosphere. Even as a young boy, he displayed a natural inclination to classical
music and spirituality.
Nadopasana: Satyanarayana became Ganapathi Sachchidananda
Swamiji at the age of 22. His mantra was Nadopasana(Worship Of Music). Sri Swamiji
says,"I was eight years old when I first read in the Sastras about the healing effects
of Music. I was, by the grace of God, also naturally gifted with this art. With
no formal training, I could play various musical instruments like the sitar, veena,
flute and so on. I thought my music would be put to good use if it could benefit
mankind.. I conducted small experiments and they proved successful. This encouraged
me to go deeper into the subject".
Sri Swamiji also says "The body has a number of Energy Centres called
CHAKRAS and 72,000 Metaphysical Energy Channels
called NADIS,14 of which are
Nerve Centers. Each one of these vibrates at a particular frequency and
has its own elemental basis such as Earth, Water, Fire, Air and
Ether. Each Raga produces sound vibrations appropriate to a specific
element and therefore to a specific Chakra and a set of related body organs".
Music therapy:
Music therapy is a scientific method
of effective cures of disease through the power of music. It restores, maintains
and improves emotional, physiological and psychological well being. The articulation,
pitch, tone and specific arrangement of swaraas (Musical Notes) in a particular
Raga stimulates, alleviates and cures various ailments inducing electro magnetic
change in the body. Music therapy requires more than just intense meditation
on sound.
This Great Master understands the varying vibrational qualities of the different
Ragas and knows which raga can help a particular disease. Certain Ragas can only
be played at selected times to be healing. So how does Swamiji apply this therapy?
He explains: "I primarily relay on my intuition when it comes to
prescribing the right kind of music for a patient. When I see an ill person, I can
intuitively identify the kind of music that will benefit him. While specific Ragas
like Nilambari, Charukesi and so on do have special therapeutical properties, I
also create my own combination of notes, in specified frequencies. I call this process
'Sampling'"
As a first step in this methodology, Swamiji requests various musicians to play
several notes as specified by him on their respective instruments. Once Swamiji
is convinced about the right note and its right frequency it is fed into the synthesizer
that he describes as a modern Veena. The end product is a unique composition created
by Swamiji that assures a primary or supplementary cure for diseases. Swamiji has
also adapted the basic melodic structure of some select kritis of Saint Tyagaraja
like Mokshamu Galada (Saramati), Shobillu Saptaswara (Jaganmohini),
Samaja Vara Gamana (Hindolam) and so on.
The Music Therapy is combined with Ayurveda, Psychology, Gemenotherapy
and Astrology, says Sri Swamiji. He further adds, I
only affect a rapport between man and God, the supreme reality, with help coming
from man himself in good measure. I attune man to God through belief and music.
Once that results, body-consciousness vanishes gradually, and with that, affliction
ceases to be experienced and ceases to exist. That is healing through Music and
Meditation.
There are four distinct aspects of music namely:
The entire universe (macrocosm) is the outcome of the conjunction of five elements
of Nature i.e. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and
Ether (Prithvi, Jala, Agni, Vaayu and Akasha). The human organism (microcosm)
is also the product of the interplay of these very five elements. Further, each
element, relatively, is finer and subtler than the other in terms of its potential
and effect. All human actions and reactions, feelings and emotions, are nothing
but 'effect' produced on the frame of human mind and body caused by the presence
and interaction of these five elements.
Among the five elements, it is the Ether element (Akasha tattva), which is all pervading
unlike all the other elements, which have more or less limited confines. Ether being
all pervasive, its attribute (guna) that is Nada (sound) is also therefore all pervasive
and hence most subtle and most effective. It is in this context that, as per yoga
terminology, 'Nada Anusandhaan' (healing through sound) assumes its very appropriate
yet mystic relevance to Shaktipat (a method through which yogi transforms the spiritual
energy)
Pujya Sri Swamiji, being a Siddha Nada Yogi, is imbued with such an extraordinary
ability to produce musical sound vibrations that they would penetrate into the five
elements which human organism is made up of, according to the variation of these
elements present in the human body. His music, traversing through the sensory perceptions
of the listeners, would produce therapeutic effects .... .....Contd.....
Swami Sahaja Datta Pada, Mysore
"Swamiji, you give so many things to your devotees, how come you never give me anything?"
He looked at me and said in the most compassionate voice, "I don't give you anything,
for I have kept you in my heart"
Swamy Vishnudatta Padarenu, Russia
Sri Swamiji addressed me by my name, Varada Raja, greeted me, allowed me to do Namaskaram,
and then began speaking with me as though He had known me for several years....
Mysore Patrike Venkatramu
"I bless all those who come to me irrespective of their caste or religion. If a
Christian comes to me I tell him to believe in Jesus and continue to have faith
in his own religion. Likewise, if a Muslim comes to me I stress upon the importance
of being a good Muslim and follow his own faith..."
S Dwarkanath, Mysore
"Your friend Satyanarayana has become a Swamiji, I went and paid my respects, you
also go and do the same", I did not pay any attention to this talk so she hit me
on the head....
C S Venkatesh, Bangalore
"Wherever you work, as a clerk or an engineer, be honest and sincere and pray to
God and your Guru. You will come out good in life".....
Krishan Kumar, Mysore
Then He took me to His room and showed me a map of India, showing certain places
saying that He wanted to go there. "Will you take me? Will you take me?"....
Sheetal Persad
"Don't worry; Sri Swamiji will take care." I realized at that moment that he was
answering my thoughts. He knows everything for He is omniscient, omnipotent and
omnipresent. He is my master.....