"My way of rendering Music and Treatment of Ragas in general is not outside
the frame of orthodox tradition. Music is considered as fourth "Upaveda",
namely - Gandharva Veda, in addition to Dhanurveda, Ayurveda and Artha Shastra.
I use devotional music as a means of spiritual energy transmission. Some
Higher Force takes care of my process, once I decide to heal through Music.
"Wara Shudhdhi" (Pure notes) is held in great veneration and is considered
as standard of musical truth. Melody is the result of Swara Shudhdhi. There
is clarity and pure energy is such a melody.
The principle underlying the concept of Musical Therapy is -"Physical health
results from a healthy MIND. "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" (health lives in
mind) is a well known dictum. It is common sense that an illness that tarts
from within is graver and acute than what is contracted externally. If the
mind can be kept tranquil and happy, being in the pink of physical health
is a foregone conclusion. Music of the right type helps in achieving relaxation
by soothing the nerves and through that, peace and stillness of mind. There
are strong indications and even concepts in Homeopathy, Naturopathy and Sidha
systems treatment that the mind of the patient be treated for physical
ailments."
"At the present time, everybody likes music. One can meditate through music.
We know so many stories about music. The 'puranas' say: The music even stimulates
the flowers to give scent and also animals to give milk, and through music
our diseases vanish. The melodious music, anyway all music is music, no problem,
both the melodious tunes and soft melodies are especially effective; because
each note corresponds to one nerve. Nowadays, so many people talk about healing
music. Of course, automatically the sounds heal, but one must know how to
operate, how to heal, which notes, which 'ragas' to choose and at what time
to play them. So many people do not know. Some 'ragas', some tunes will hurt
our heart and our mental state. Why? Because the tunes correspond to our
nerves.
The knowledge about this is called 'Raga Ragini Vidya' or 'Siddhi Vidya'.
I think you heard about the 'siddihis' of Indian saints. Many people only
know about miracles. But miracles are only a part of the 'siddhis'. They
are a kind of 'siddhi'. Christ also performed miracles, Shankaracharya also
performed miracles, many others also performed miracles. They are one part
of 'siddhi'. There are eight kind of 'siddhis'. Who has achieved the eight
'siddhis' is called a 'siddha purusa'. These 'siddhis' are required in order
to heal through music. The music is without miracles, it gets tuned to our
nervous system. The child is crying, if you keep on giving him sounds, the
child automatically goes to sleep. There are particular tunes, particular
'ragas', also particular instruments. You know about flute, about violin,
about tabla, there are so many instruments, like guitar, saxophone, each
instrument has some qualities. When you join the instruments which nowadays
is called orchestra, again you get a particular quality. You can compare
each instrument with a doctor; some doctors are specialized for the nervous
system, some for the stomach, some for the heart. A general doctor is called
a physician. Like this, each instrument is specialized for different nervous
systems.
People will ask. One has to know about these qualities and one has to
observe certain rules and regulations. Nowadays the science is developing
very fast. All the instruments are combined in one synthesizer, it is an
electronic instrument. This instrument is only a medium for Swamiji to reach
another sphere. When Swamiji plays music people will be sitting calmly and
concentrate on the sound. Then Swamiji gets easily access to their mind,
you understand? Easily Swamiji's mental vibrations can reach people's mind
and he can examine people's mind. I cannot explain how I do it, I can only
explain the notes (plays some notes), but I cannot explain that 'siddhi'
by which Swamiji gets access to your mind. Who will give that 'shakti'? I
don't know. How can he use it for people: I don't know, simply I am using.
If I cannot use it I am in pain, so I must use it, I must give it to some
people. So, through people's concentration Swamiji finds the way to heal.
Many people think that the music heals. Of course music helps, but it does
not heal. The music supports Swamiji's 'siddhi'. The music helps Swamiji
to enter your mind and tune it. If your sit for ten minutes your thoughts
go astray. If Swamiji plays beautiful tunes, you will listen to them, you
get mentally stable and strengthened. Then your are also looking to Swamiji,
your sense organs are concentrated on one thing. At that time Swamiji gets
access to your mind, your nervous system. He will examine: Oh, that person
has some illness, this nervous system is disturbed, oh, this person wants
some spiritual experience, this person wants some money, oh, yes, this person
wants a job, this person wants health, oh, and this person wants a child,
this person wants to get married. Like this Swamiji is examining. Of course,
also without music Swamiji is examining, but the music helps Swamiji. Then
Swamiji decides: ok, this person gets healing, or this person is unfit. Sometimes
he is only witnessing, because he has no orders from Lord Datta, Lord Christ,
Lord Buddha, they do not permit, Mother Goddess does not permit. Swamiji
is only witnessing like a good friend, but he cannot help, because of your
'karma', because you must face your 'karma'."
