Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara: Sri Swamiji in Houston June 26th-30th, 2019
Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara: Sri Swamiji in Houston June 26th-30th, 2019
Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara: Sri Swamiji in Houston June 26th-30th, 2019
Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived in Houston from Dallas on 27thJune 2019 for Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara, fulfilling Houston devotees’ long-time prayers. On 28thJune, a welcome ceremony to inaugurate the 3-day program titled “Guru Sannidhi” was arranged in Chinmaya Mission Houston in Sugar Land, TX. Sri Swamiji arrived at 6:30 p.m. and was welcomed amidst Vedic chants and Purnakumbha to the hall. Smt. and Sri Chainulu Chavali offered a garland to Pujya Swamiji on behalf of DYC Houston.
Acharya Gaurang: Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Houston, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy E. Nehls, Sri Prakasa Rao Velagapudi: DYC USA Chairman and Sri Srikar Jonnalagadda: DYC Houston Coordinator were invited upon the stage to light the inaugural lamp. Houston youth Gayathri, Mahragni, Akhila, and Akshara sang “Śiveti Śoureeti”, the Ashrama daily prayer. Sri Srinivas Mullapudi honored Sheriff Troy Nehls with bouquet and shawl before he spoke a few words on the occasion thanking Sri Swamiji for His visit, highlighting Houston’s strength in diversity, and reminding us of the validity of the words “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah”. Sri Srikar Jonnalagadda spoke briefly about DYC Houston’s activities and announced that with Pujya Swamiji’s permission, DYC Houston will be acquiring a facility to house its activities (e.g Bhagavad Gita classes, Bala Datta programs, and weekly satsangs).
Then, Sri Prakasa Rao Velagapudi welcomed Sri Swamiji with an elaborate speech detailing Pujya Swamiji’s music and its various dimensions.
Nritya Seva was offered by Medha and Vedha Jonnada, students of Dr. Ratna Kumar and Venugopal Joshyula of the Anjali Center for Performing Arts, whose center Sri Swamiji had blessed almost 30 years ago. Eight Bhagavad Gita memorizers and fluent readers from DYC Houston chanted Dhyana Shlokas, Chapter 12- Bhakti Yoga, and Gita Saara. Sri Swamiji later blessed each one of them with flowers. Smt. and Sri Srikar Jonnalagadda offered a garland to Pujya Swamiji. Smt. and Sri Prasanth Naidu offered Guru Sannidhi program t-shirts to Sri Swamiji for release. Smt. and Sri Suresh Konakanchi offered Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara concert tote bags for release. Sri HV Prasad, of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru, spoke on the relationship between Swami Chinmayananda and Sri Swamiji, two spiritual giants of our times, and explained how Sri Swamiji has taken forward Swami Chinmayananda’s request to Pujya Swamiji to spread Bhagavad Gita to the masses by not only creating the Gita Saara on the request of Sri Bala Gangadharanatha Swamiji, but also inspiring hundreds of people across the globe to memorize all of the Gita’s 700 verses. Sri Prasad mentioned how many admire Sri Swamiji’s ability to attract youth, in particular, towards spirituality. Regarding Sri Swamiji’s music, Sri Prasad admitted there was not much left to say but emphasized that a true healing specialty must be inherent in it, considering so many musical maestros of this time such as Dr. L. Subramaniam, Pt.Viswhwa Mohan Bhatt, Sri Bala Murali Krishna, and Sri Karaikkudi Mani yearned to play with and get healed by Pujya Swamiji. Sri Prasad also spoke on the importance of Houston in Sri Swamiji’s American mission since 1976.
Finally, devotees were blessed with Sri Swamiji’s nectar-like discourse, in which Sri Swamiji directed them to not waste time in chatter, and utilize it well by chanting the Lord’s name, reading good books, and reading good poetry, etc. Answers to many problems may even manifest in the mind during this type of Japa. One should control the Buddhi, Atman, and Indriyas, and pray without desire to achieve peace. Pujya Swamiji urged devotees not to superficially chase after many spiritual teachers for answers, just to get more confused. One can receive knowledge from many teachers, but should only follow one Sadguru. Sri Swamiji encouraged all devotees to come and experience Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara on Saturday evening. Annadana Mahaprasad was gotten blessed with Sri Swamiji by Sri Ranjith, and the evening’s programs concluded.
At 7 p.m. on June 28th, Sri Swamiji arrived at the Chinmaya Mission just as Suvasini Puja was completed. Smt. And Sri Raju Venuturupalli offered a garland to Pujya Swamiji before His Holiness ascended the Vyasa Peetha to commence the first bhajan session of this 156thforeign tour. Sri Swamiji sang bhajans Vinayaka Vinayaka, Amba Pahi, Sridevi Bhagavate, Aghanasana Anaghapriya, Siva Siva Shankara, and Krishna Krishna Mukunda. Sri Swamiji elaborated upon the mahima, the greatness, of bhajans. Even uttering a syllable in stotras like the Vishnu Sahasranama is beneficial since it is composed of beejaksharas (Seed letters). Similarly, all of Sri Swamiji’s bhajans contain beejaksharas. For example, the bhajan Vinayaka Vinayaka repeats the name “Vinayaka” many times within its verses. This is not just for maintenance of tala (rhythm) or for prose: it is a form of tapas when the very word is repeatedly chanted. There are mystical calculations based on how many Beejaksharas are within each line of the bhajan: this is why Divya Nama Sankeertana is so powerful. Sri Swamiji recounted a story from the book Katha Sagara(authored by Sri Swamiji) which contains not only puranic tales with enriching morals, but also many spontaneous short stories that Sri Swamiji had narrated in speeches past, and while the book was being prepared.
After bhajans, Smt. And Sri Sastry Vedam offered a garland to Pujya Swamiji, and Smt. And Sri Prasad Atluri offered a specially designed vastram which has the SGS Posts emblem, Shukavana parrots, and Guru Sannidhi program logo. Sri Anandan Ganesan offered a Guru Sannidhi kurta for release, while Sri Pradyumna Upadrashta offered the events’ souvenir to His Holiness. Smt. Thara Narasimhan ji , President of Hindus of Greater Houston, Sri Satish Kodeboyina, Southern Spice owner and event annadana sponsor, Smt. Geetha Ravula, Sri Naga Srinivas Kathoju, and Sri Srinivas Ganti were felicitated. DYC Houston presented an eggless cake featuring various Indian classical instruments to Pujya Sri Swamiji for His Holiness’ 77thbirthday. Pujya Swamiji cut the cake along with several children from Houston and Dallas, as a sweet finale to the evening.
The morning of Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara started off splendidly, with Sri Swamiji performing Sri Chakra Puja. Sangeeta Seva consisted of the presentation of Pujya Swamiji’s Swaradevata Krtis, led by Smt. Rajeshwari Bhat of Houston. Between each krti, Smt. Hira Duvvuri briefly introduced and spoke on each krti’s associated deities and particulars. Smt and Sri Srinivas Ganti offered garland to Pujya Swamiji after Sri Chakra Puja. Smt Rajeshwari Bhat and Sri Harish Bhat, Smt. Vijayashree Venkatraman and Sri Venkatraman Subramanian and Smt. And Sri Sastry Vedam who led the rendering, came from Dallas to participate, and helped coordinate the musicians, respectively, were felicitated by Smt and Sri Ram Duvvuri. Sri HV Prasad conveyed that Sri Swamiji, after listening to the Swaradevata Kritis, stated, “The tradition continues” and related that during Pujya Swamiji’s 50thbirthday celebrations in 1992, these same kritis were led by Vidwan Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, accompanied by Vid. Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman on violin, Vid. Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman on mridangam, and Vid. Sri Vikku Vinayakram on ghatam. Watching this doyen of Carnatic music was Vid. Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam, Vid.K.V.Narayanaswamy, Vid.Karaikkudi Mani amongst others, sitting next to Sri Swamiji, , This is the tradition established in 1992, which was continued by the Houston and Dallas area devotees on this day in 2019. Pujya Swamiji spontaneously materialized a gold bracelet for Smt. Rajeshwari for her efforts in leading the group and having taken a responsibility to propagate Sri Swamiji’s music across the states.
Pujya Swamiji blessed devotees with a discourse entailing how Sri Swamiji’s visit seemed like a dream for local devotees until the day Sri Swamiji arrived, as Sri Swamiji many a times would always promise a visit would happen the following year. His Holiness tied this in to the story of Dhruva, demonstrating that one should never lose hope since the words of God or Sadguru always come true. Pujya Swamiji directed Gayathri, Sanmathi, and Sreekruthi to sing the bhajan “Nav Chal Padi” and much to devotees’ delight, sang along with them. The bhajan illustrates how devotees safely navigate the Ocean of Samsara on Guru Datta’s boat.
Next, Smt. and Sri Siddheshwar Gubba were honored for helping to provide security and escort services throughout Sri Swamiji’s visit. Smt. and Sri Srinivas Mullapudi offered a garland to Pujya Swamiji. Smt. and Sri Murali Babu Chilakapati offered a unique saptaswara birds sari to Sri Swamiji in anticipation of the evening concert. Smt. and Sri Sunil offered a memento on the occasion. Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple trustees and Bilva Osmer offered a Gaja mala to Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji kindly blessed devotees with a darshan line after the discourse.
The evening of June 29thheld the most awaited event of this Houston visit and the first music for meditation and healing concert of Pujya Swamiji’s USA tour. The Jones Hall for Performing Arts was the lucky venue for the free concert, attended by about a stunning 3000 members comprising of music enthusiasts, devotees, and those curious about music therapy. They were given concert souvenirs describing Sri Swamiji’s various activities and brief description of His Holiness’ music, as well as tokens of appreciation for attending the concert. Yogini Kaliji gave the introductory address for the evening, describing her past experiences with Sri Swamiji’s unique music. She introduced onto the stage Pujya Swamiji and members of the Celestial Music troupe: Vidwan Jaitra Varanasi on violin, Vid. Narasimham Mani on keyboard, Vid. Shankar Ramesh on Mirdangam, Vid. Mahesh Bhatt on Tabla, and Sri Jaya Datta on Drum Pad. Smt. Geetha Ravula invited Fort Bend county Commissioner Andy Meyers, and Sri Sam Merchant, representative from Congressman Al Green’s office lit the lamp to inaugurate the concert. Sri Ramesh Bhutada from the Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh and Smt Kirthi Jain, director at Seva International, offered welcome garland to Sri Swamiji. The mayor of Houston had announced June 29thas “Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji Day” on the occasion, by the efforts of Smt. Geetha Ravula. Congressman Al Green’s commending certificate for Datta Yoga Center, Houston for the services rendered to the community. Sri Sam Merchant and Sri Andy Meyers offered the proclamation, certificate and flower garland to Sri Swamiji. Fort Bend County Sheriff Ted Nehls offered the flag flown over the capitol in commemoration of 12 June 2019 – Jyeshtha Shuddha Ekadashi birthday of Sri Swamiji.
Before playing, Sri Swamiji instructed the audience to relax and sleep well during the concert. The stronger the sleep, the stronger the healing, explained His Holiness. As is customary, Sri Swamiji played Rushyaketupriya Raga (Pranava Swarupam) to begin the concert, and went on to play Hindola Raga (Palaya Palaya Sri Lalite). Yoga Siddhi Raga Sagara’s main ragas of the day were Raga Vaasanthi (Gana Gana Mrogedu ), Raga Alankaarapriya (Jaya Jaya Saptambhujavase), and Raga Dharmavathi (Namo Namo Ganapathaye). Sri Swamiji spoke before commencing Raga Dharmavathi, which heals the entire body, aids in meditation, and helps one fall asleep quickly; Sri Swamiji expounded that He has been experimenting and improvising music therapy with this raga for 18 years. Sri Swamiji gave a brief introduction into Raga Ragini Vidya by explaining that different notes and different sounds influence each nerve in the body, and mentioned the process of how a synthesizer was chosen as the main instrument for His Holiness’ music.
The relaxed audience was woken up from their slumber by the energetic “Dancing Tune” (Shankarabharanam Raga), before Sri Swamiji closed with Raga Ragini Devi Mangalam in Sama Raga. Tani Avarthanam between the percussion instruments mridangam and tabla after Dharmavati Raga was so perfectly coordinated that the audience was mesmerized. For more than 2.5 hours, the audience, a large portion of which was completely new to Sri Swamiji’s music, was enthralled by Sri Swamiji’s lilting notes and the accompanying musicians’ appropriate support of Sri Swamiji’s melodies.
As Yogini Kaliji expressed immense gratitude in her closing remarks on behalf of everyone present, all gave a standing ovation with thunderous applause. Sri Ramesh Chikkala and family offered a garland to Sri Swamiji thanking His Holiness for the enchanting concert and Houston visit. Dr. Nandini and Dr. Prakasa Rao Velagapudi offered the crystal concert memento. Artists were honored by Sri Srikar Jonnalagadda and Smt. and Sri Suri Duvvuri.
With this, the gratifying three-day programs concluded, and Houston devotees await Sri Swamiji’s promised return.
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Speech Welcoming Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji
to Houston as Nada Brahma
Prakasarao V Velagapudi, PhD
(Delivered in Houston on June 27, 2019)
Jai Guru Datta, Jai Guru Hanuman
Prostrations at the Lotus Feet of our Sadguru Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. On behalf of Houston devotees and the devotees across the globe, it is my privilege to welcome Sri Swamiji to Houston community. Let us welcome Sri Swamiji with a round of loud applause.
Today I want to introduce Sri Swamiji as a Master musician, a Celestial Instrumentalist, Vaggeyakara, anda Nada Brahma,
Sri Swamiji’s healing music started about 40 years ago with an experiment on a German devotee who was told that he had incurable cancer.Sri Swamiji started playing different ragas with different tunes directed at the root cause of cancer and got his disease cured. Equipped with this knowledge, Sri Swamiji’s musical extraordinary journey has taken him to more than 30 countries, conducted more than 160 musical concerts to render healing music for the wellbeing of the listeners across the world. Devotees and non-devotees alike benefitted from the music. People with blood pressure, back problems, joint pains, migraine headaches, stomach problems, Alzheimer's decease, concentration problems, nervous tensions, arthritis, eye problems, and autism have reaped the benefits by listening to Sri Swamiji’s divine music. It is difficult to explain how Sri Swamiji can show so much elegance, royalty, majesty and agility in playing the modern veena to reveal the complexity of speed, effortless and precision of intonation.
In general, Sri Swamiji talks about the interconnectedness between the planets, mathematics, astronomy, panchabutas, musical tones, ragas, colors, metals, days of the week, chakras, etc. that are basic to any healing and meditation music. Each concert is different. Each musical item will have a different impact on the individual due tothe interconnectedness. You will hear the nature exploding, water gushing down from the mountains, raindrops, winds slashing the trees, birds chirping, volcanic sounds, clouds hissing, animals rejoicing, clouds thundering, and other sounds from panchabhutas. The man who is made up of panchabhutas is benefited by His music.
No two concerts are the same. Each one is unique.Ragas are different, instruments are different, sounds are different, and rhythm is different. It would be exhilarating, amazing, extraordinary, exceptional, enthralling, and fast. His fingers will be galloping, his hands crisscrossing, his eyes glistening, his looks emitting vibrationsand his form reavealingdivinity.
Vedas talk about Bindu, Brahmanda (cosmic egg), Hiranyagarbha (Golden womb), Bindu Visphot (Dot Or point explosion) and Nada. According to the Vedic concept of creation, it was sound and NOT light that appeared first. In Vedic texts, it is called Nada Brahma or 'The Sound Celestial'. Vedic sages stated that the evolution of the Brahmanda ('cosmic egg') was caused as a result of an explosion of anu(atomic) that produced infinite waves of sound, which were responsible for cosmic expansion. It can be described as Bing Bang theory. The sound that caused the explosion was a monosyllable called Aum. Since AUM is related to the beginning of the universe (and to the dissolution of the universe as well), Hindus consider it the most sacred syllable. Hence Vedic mantras commence and end with Aum. In fact,Sri Swamiji observed based on Puranas that “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.” According to Shiva Samhita: "There is nothing as effective as nada to merge the mind."
Sri Swamiji considers music as divinethat is directed at the attainment of salvation. It is considered the easiest way to mukti. Listening with faith and enjoyment or singing of music forgetting other thingsleads one closer to God. Listening or singing music with devotion brings peace of mind, happiness, joy, anddelight. Many Puranas describe the creation of this prapancha(universe) and it’s a relationto the Nada (sound). George Gordon Byron expresses amply the connection between cosmos and music as follows:
“There's music in the sighing of a reed;
There's music in the gushing of a rill;
There's music in all thingsif men had ears;
The earth is but the music of the spheres.”
Sri Swamiji’s name is synonymous with music, both instrumental and vocal. The whole Ashram vibrates with music. Devotees are drenched in His music. Music Therapy is conducted daily. Yoga classes are organizedall over the world. In fact,the Ashram contains the unique Saptaswara temple with seven columns representing seven notes of Music. Additionally, Sri Swamiji built one of the largest auditoriums known as Nada Mantapam signifying the importance Sri Swamiji gives to the music. Hundreds of musical stalwarts joined Sri Swamiji in conducting numerous healing and meditation concerts and namasankeetanas. The ashramis Nada Mayam. He composed 72 melakarta ragas to address 72 main nerve centers in the body. Very few musicians composed these many ragas.
Sri Swamiji recently concluded a historic recording session where he played 400 Indian music Ragas on Synthesizer. This is a historic first never accomplished before. Many of the 400 Ragas are very rarely or never used in concerts by musicians. So, for posterity, we have Sri Swamiji's recordings as a benchmark to access the progress of music. Through his music Sri Swamiji tries to connect the imperfect soul of the man to the perfect divine bliss to stimulate hidden chamber of heart to experience the happiness.
Brhaddesi of Matangarevealed the real nature of dhvani (sound) to Narada Muni:
"Now I shall expound the highest definition of nada:
Without nada, song cannot exist.
Without nada, the scale degrees cannot exist.
Without nada, the dance cannot come into being.
For this reason, the entire world becomes the embodiment of nada.
In the form of Nada, Brahma is said to exist; In the form of nada, Vishnu;
In the form of nada, Parvati; in the form of nada, Shiva.
That inner region which is said to be the abode of Brahma is called the brahmagranthi.
Vital air is situated in its center, from this mass of vital air fire arises.
From the combination of fire and air, nada is born."
Lady Anne Campbell Wilsonauthor ofAfter five years in India, or, Life and work in the Punjab district, says: "An eminently poetical people," as the ancient Hindus were, could not but have been eminently musical also. "The people of India are essentially a musical race....To such an extent is music an accompaniment of existence in India, that every hour of the day and season of the year has its own melody."
Sri Swamiji talks about the relation between the cosmic world, the naturalworld, andhuman world. His music is synchronized to bring balance into these three worlds. Hence, we will hear his music sometimes soft and smooth, andsometimes harsh and loud. This music encircles you, surrounds you, engulfs you, absorbs you, drenches you and soaks you. It penetrates the pores of your body, permeates your body, elevates your mood, infuses your chakras, numbs your senses, inflames temperament, intensifies concentration, reduces your stress, creates an unknown ecstasy, generates numbness, and produces drowsiness. Every atom in our body is affected, Certain types of healing ragas in right combinations stimulate our body, organize neural activity, massage our senses, retune our emotions, and establish calmness and peace.
Kabirdas, Meerabai, Purandaradas, Dikshitar, Jaidev, Namdev, Narada, Annamayya, Thygaraja, Tansen and many others effectively used music as a powerful means of communicating the subtle and sensitive thoughts and ideas to the people. In addition to conducting bhajans, abhangsand Kirtans, like many stalwarts, to convey the divineness to the people, Sri Swamiji uses Nada, more specifically Nada Chikitsa to improve the health of the people, to cure incurable deceases, to bring harmony between humanity and nature, to balance the chakras in the human body, to bring unity among the body, mind and soul, and to purify the environment and elevate the spiritual realm. Different ragas are played to affect different parts of the body, different chakras, different nerve centers, different elements of panchabhutas, and different zodiac signs.
Sri Swamiji’s music is directed at reducing the stress, lessen the distress, minimize the strain, decrease the worries, lower the anxiety, remove the negative emotions, increase concentration, create positive vibrations, and finally calm the mind. Why would Sri Swamiji concentrate on calming the mind?
Sri Swamiji on How Sounds penetrate
"The mind, under the sway of the senses, is likened to a raging elephant confined within a garden. Nadamis likened to a goadbecause it draws and directs the mind toward internal absorption and union with its source. Just as music can calm and relax the mind, making one completely forget problems and worries, so absorption in the subtle nadambrings forgetfulness of the external world."(Hatha Yoga Pradipika 4:91-94)
Over the years, He developed or played several ragas that have different effect on the body and soul of the listeners. After much trials and experimentation, He discovered that several ragas like Sriranjani, Keeravani, Amruta Varshini, Chakravakam, Hamsanandi have curative effects and a specific raga can heal the ailments such as cancer, heart, skin, psychosomatic problems and many others modern days urban oriented tensions. Swamijisays, "Raga Nilambari cures sleeplessness, Sri Raga aids in indigestion. For mental equipoise Sama raga is suggested. Dwajavanti quells nervous debilities, Music influences the cells, tissues, and nerves of the body. Tissue breakdown, cancerous growths, skin ailments, mental problems are healed to a great extent by music.”
He utilizes all seven notes with extreme efficiency and agility to make each raga affect different parts of our body. As per Narada Samhita, "The note Sais said to be the soul, Riis called the head, Gais the arms, Mathe chest, Pathe throat, Dhathe hips, Nithe feet. Such are the seven limbs of the modal scale." (2, 53-54).
Mr. Percy Brown, formerly of the School of Art, Calcutta, defines a raga as "a work of art in which the tune, the song, the picture, the colors, the season, the hour and the virtues are so blended together as to produce a composite production to which the West can furnish no parallel."
Lakshmana Pillayhas said: "Thus, each raga comes and goes with its store of smiles or tears, of passion or pathos, its noble and lofty impulses, and leaves its mark on the mind of the hearer."
Sri Swamiji conducts these Healing and Meditation concerts to increase the efficiency, elevate the mood, increase the memory, dispes the fear, create positive feelings, improve sleeping patterns, boost the immunity, and improve the mood.
Sri Swamiji’s music is no ordinary music; it is Para nada (transcendental, beyond or 'the other side' sound). His music is beyond the reach of perception, the pancha indriyas, mind, cognition, consciousness, nadis, andchakras. His music is directed at a super-consciousnesslevel where the sound is heard in different dimensions. A person sitting in the auditorium does not even know how the music is affecting his body, his mood, heart, chakras, nadis, and indriyas. Because Sri Swamiji takes to a higher frequency where the sound becomes inaudible and can only be perceived subjectively and silently. Once you are taken to Para or transcendental level, as many scriptures describe that Para sound has no vibration, no movements, no motion, no frequency, andno reaction. Because, at a certainlevel of frequency, Sri Swamiji’s music transforms one to experience silence, stillness, andquietness. At this frequency of music, we hear what we hear but not what we need to hear, because the ears do not have the full capacity to capture all levels of sounds. Similarly, we see what we see, but not what needs to be seen because eyes cannot capture the panoramic view of the scene. Thus we, therefore, are not aware of all the sounds that are present in the cosmos.
Sri Swamijisays, "The power of vibrations connects in some manner all things and all beings in the universe on all planes of existence. Nada vibrations work through the chord of sympathy existing between man and his surroundings. The human body has 72,000 astral nerves (nadis) which incessantly vibrate in a specific rhythmic pattern. Disturbance in their rhythmic vibration is the root cause of disease. The musical notes restore their normal rhythm, thereby bringing about good health. Listen with your heart and not your intellect."
He goes on to say, “Ragas like, Bhairavi, Kalyani, Vasant, Kosala, Hanuma thadi, Hamsadhwani, Kirvani, etc., are the unspoiled sounds of eternal nature, the soul of man and Paramatman. All Ragas are energetic indeed, whether Melakarta or Janya. Potential exists in all ragas to cure conditions or afflictions. The musical healer will have subtle psychological conceptions of ragas at an intuitive level. It is not mechanical performance of ritual with the intention for material reward. Music therefore is an experience of Truth in spite of intellectual interpretation."
In addition to knowing what ragas to play for a particular ailment, and which notes in that raga to emphasize for their healing effect, which chakra and elements to emphasize as well as the influence of the planets and their raga relationship, it is of paramount importance to know what musical sound or sounds to use and the effects on the body and mind. It is for this reason that Sri Swamiji uses a synthesizer for his healing and meditation music. The five elements each have particular sounds associated with them and this knowledge adds another layer to the healing methodology.
According to Sri Swamiji:
There is a definite relation between the seven notes of music and the seven colors of the VIBGYORspectrum. Further these colors and musical notes also happen to be related to the metaphysical energy centers (chakras) of the human body as mentioned in the below.
Ni-Violet-Sahasrara (Crown)
Da-Indigo-Agna (Brow)
Pa-Blue-Visuddha (Throat)
Ma-Green-Anahata (Heart)
Ga-Yellow-Manipooraka (Navel)
Ri-Orange-Swadhishthana (Pelvic)
Sa-Red-Mooladhara (Base).
That is the reason Sri Swamiji plays different ragas to affect different parts of the body, different chakras, different nerve centers, different elements of panchabhutas, and different zodiac signs
Research Studies
Umesh Sharmapointed out that, “Perhaps the best example of healing through music is Swami Ganapati Sachchidananda, the pontiff of Datta Peetham in Mysore, India, who gives musical concerts for meditation and healing. The philosophy of his healing technique is based on the concept of the Akasha Tattva (Akash) being all pervasive. Thus, its attribute, which is also nada (sound), is all pervasive. The Swami preaches that as food is required for the nourishment of the body, so is bhajan (devotional singing) for the mind.”(Stress Management Through Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science, p:241-2)
Sri Swamiji’s healing music was utilized in several Intensive Care Units at numerous hospitals. As such, preliminary experiments to study the influence of Sri Swamiji's music on Tamil Nadu State police personnel showed improved behavior with plaintiffs, reduced job-related stress, and an improvement in their overall sense of well-being. When Sri Swamiji’s music was played in prisons, an improvement in convicts’ behavior with co-habitants and better social consciousness was observed.
Sri Swamiji has started this unchartered voyage with a mission to spread the music in order to provide much needed relief to people with different ailments. Now the scientists have come to realize the need for scientific research following the footsteps of Sri Swamiji. They been conducting, compiling, documenting, proving and accumulating scientific evidence to the benefitsof healing music on the brain and physical and mental health. Ashford Universitysays, “One of the first things that happens when music enters our brains is the triggering of pleasure centersthat release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy. This response is so quick, the brain can even anticipate the most pleasurable peaks in familiar music and prime itself with an early dopamine rush.”
David J. Levitin and Mona Lisa Chanda, using meta-analysis of 400 studies found that music improves the body’s immune system function and reduces stress; and also found music to be effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety. Lindsay Fleming and Daniel Levitinconcluded that“When fed with music, the entire brain-sphere is aglow, showing that the power of music influences every part of the organ. Research confirms that the brain almost dances to the tune, be it to bust stress, improve immunity, or induce pleasure.
In addition, studies showthat the rhythmic stimulation of music promotes the release of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, affecting brain chemistry and resulting in stress reduction and mood elevation. Special originally composed meditation music proved to align you instantly with the ‘happiness frequency’. Music appears to increase the serotonin levels in the brain thereby healing the individual to feel lighter, happier and calmer,eradicating all negativity.
A study in the USA
Experimental Session: Subject listened to Swamiji s composition for the same length of time
and then while engaging in an emotion processing task, her brain was scanned. Investigator(s):
Josh Cisler, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Brain Imaging Research Center Psychiatric Research
Institute, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Richard Smith, MD. Director,
Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Conclusion : In the
experimental session, functional MRI study showed that the subject who took the music healing
session did not react abruptly to the emotional stimuli (fear vs neutral), which suggests that Sri
Swamiji's music has potential to shield from stressful situations in day-to-day life. Swamiji
appreciates such studies with His music on a larger population, especially with His Zodiac
Now science is catching up with Sri Swamiji’s experimentation and Divya dhristi (divine vision).
When you all go to the concert hall on Saturday, we request all of you to relax and listen with open minds. Try to forget the rest of the world for the length of this concert; sure, you will be taken to a different realm, different world.
Listening to Sri Swamiji’s music makes you larger than you were, more peaceful than you were, much calmer than you were, more confident than you were, more spiritual than you were, more blissful than were, experience more ecstasy than you were, more mellower than you were, and more in tune with nature than your before.
Let us join our hands and welcome our guru, Sadguru, and Nada Brahma to Houston.
