WHEN THE DEAD IS BROUGHT BACK BY MUSIC

The Therapeutic Value of Music

In India legend has it that Thyagaraja, the famous musician of South India, brought a dead person back to life by singing the composition Naa Jeeva Dhara in raga Bihari. 
Dr. Burnell has mentioned a manuscript named Raga Chikistsa in the collections of the Saraswati Mahal Library in Tanjore which deals with the various ragas that can be used for curing various ailments.

Music is basically a sound or nada generating particular vibrations which moves through the medium of the ether present in the atmosphere and affects the human body . Sarangdev mentions in his Sangeet Ratnakar that ahata nada or music is always produced by striking or aghata by a living being on an instrument of any kind, so music is a power or universal energy in the form of ragas. Matanga (9-10th centurey AD) was the earliest writer to define raga. According to him “raga is that kind of sound composition consisting of melodic movements which has the effect of clearing the hearts of men.” There are four sources of raga: folk songs, poetry, devotional songs of mystics and compositions of classical musicians. While harmony is the characteristic of Western music, Indian music is pure melody. 

The general term for melody in India is raga or ragini. Symphonies of raga have a definite soothing effect on the mind as well as on the body Repeated listening to the particular raga being chosen for a particular disease produces a network of sound vibration. The muscles, nerves and the chakras of the affected part are contracted when one impulse is given and relaxed during the interval between two impulses. Thus, during contraction of the tissue, musical notes make the blood flow out of that particular area and in the interval there is relaxation and a state of reduced pressure is produced in these areas. Thus the blood from the adjacent area will flow there. 

This process is repeated again and again and the blood flow and energy flow in that part is enhanced. This makes quick, fast healing. Energy from URF (universal energy field) to HEF (human energy field) transmitted by the strokes of the different tones of raga affects the CNS (Central nervous system) because the roots of the auditory nerves are more widely distributed and have more connections than any other nerves in the body. 
Music beats have a very close relationship with heart beats. Music having 70-75 beats per minute equivalent to the normal heart beat of 72 has a very soothing effect. Likewise rhythms which are slower than 72 beats per minute create a positive suspense on the mind and body since
the mind, body complex anticipates that the music will speed up and this restored vital energy gives a deep relaxation to the body. Rhythms which are faster than the heart rate excite and rejuvenate the body. Hindustani/classical musical considers ragas as depicting specific moods . An appropriate mood is to be evoked in the listener’s mind before initiating the musical treatment.

Kafi Raga evokes a humid, cool, soothing and deep mood while Raga Pooriya Dhansari evokes sweet, deep, heavy, cloudy and stable state of mind. Raga Mishra Mand has a very pleasing, refreshing light and sweet touch while bagashwri arouses a feeling of darkness, stability, depths and calmness. Music is considered the best tranquilizer in modern days of anxiety, tension and high blood pressure. Raga Darbari is considered very effective in easing tension. It is a late night raga composed by Tansen for Akbar to relieve his tension after the hectic schedule of the daily court life.

This raga belongs to Asavari that and is a complete raga containing all the seven notes. The seven notes are taken from various natural sounds of birds and animals. Raga Bhupali and Todi give tremendous relief to patients of high blood pressure. Raga Ahir-Bhairav is supposed to sustain chords which automatically brings down blood pressure. Raga Malkauns and Raga Asawari help to cure low blood pressure, for heart ailments Raga Chandrakauns is considered very helpful. Raga Tilak-Kamod, Hansdhwani, Kalvati, Durga evoke a very pleasing effect on the nerves. For patients suffering from insomnia and need a peaceful sonorous sleep, Raga Bihag and Bahar have wonderful effects.

Ragas are closely related to different parts of the day, according to changes in the nature and development of a particular emotion, mood or sentiment in the human mind . Music therapy treatment is conducted either early morning, evening or night. One should avoid long music sessions on an empty stomach [15]. Music sassions should be of one hour duration with two or three short sessions with breaks. 

One of the unique characteristics of Indian music is  music is the assignment of definite times of the day and night for performing .

It is believed that only in this period that Raga appears to be at the height of its melodic beauty and majestic splendour. There are some Ragas which are very attractive in the early hours of the mornings, others which appeal in the evenings, yet others which spread their fragrance only near the midnight hour. This connections of time of the day or night, with the Raga or Raginis is based on a daily cycle of changes that occur in our own body and mind  which are constantly undergoing subtle changes in that different moments of the day arouse and stimulate different moods and emotions. Each Raga or Ragini is associated with a definite mood or sentiment that nature arouses in human beings.
The ancient musicologists were particularly interested in the effects of musical notes, how it affected and enhanced human behavior. Music had the power to cure, to make you feel happy, sad, disgusted and so on. Extensive research was carried out to find out these effects. This formed the basis of time theory as we know it today.

It is believed that the human body  is dominated by the three Doshas-Kaph, Pitta and Vata. These elements work in a cyclic order of rise and fall during the 24 hour period. Also, the reaction of these three elements differs with the seasons. Hence it is said that   performing or listening to a raga at the proper allotted time can affect the health of human beings.
The following schedule will summarize the specific time periods:

The 24 hour period is divided into 8 beats (Prahar) each three hours long, as follows: 1. 7 a.m.-10 a.m. 1st beat of the day. Daybreak, Early Morning. Morning. 2. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2nd beat of the day. Late Morning, Noon, Early afternoon. 3. 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. 3rd beat of the day. Afternoon, Late Afternoon. 4. 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. 4th beat of the day. Evening Twilight, Dusk (sunset) 5. 7 p.m. – 10 a.m. first beat of the night. Evening, Late Evening. 6. 10 p.m. – 1 p.m., 2nd beat of the night. Night, Midnight. 7. 1 a.m. – 4 a.m. 3rd beat of the night. Late Night 8. 4 a.m. – 7 a.m. 4th beat of the night. Early Dawn, Dawn (before sunrise) Similarly Everyday two cycles of change pass through our body, each bringing a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha predominance. The approximate times of these cycles are as follows: First cycle • 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Kapha • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Pitta • 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Vata Second cycle • 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Kapha • 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Pitta • 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

There are Ragas associated with the rainy season, Varsha (Raga Megha and Raga Malhar), the autumn season, Basant (Raga Basant) and the spring season (Raga Bahar). Seasonal Ragas can be sung and played any time of the day and night during the season allotted to them. The obligation of time in case of such melodies is relaxed. Vasanta Ritu (Spring Season). In this season, increased kapha is liquified by the heat of sun which causes diminished agni (digestive activity) causing diseases Grishma Ritu (Summer Season) In this season, Sunrays become powerful. Kapha decreases vata increases day by day Sharat Ritu (Autumn Season) Sudden exposed to sunlight after cold season aggravates pita.