A CUP OF MUSIC , A GALLON OF LIFE
Classical music and
EMOTIONAL AWARENESS
Written by : Nithya Rajendran , a dual Indian Classical vocalist in Hindustani and Carnatic music with over 3 decades training . She is founder and curator of Music Vruksh , an initiative to spread awareness and appreciation of Inidan Classical music for its aesthetic , spiritual , wellness and transformative potential .
Mindfulness and awareness are the big buzz words of our generation . These words have helped simplify spirituality for the West . Mindfulness is essentially an attribute of practical spirituality . It involves developing the ability to be fully aware , of one ’ s environment , of one ' s body and mind , and most of all one ' s emotions .
Emotional awareness is considered essential not only in the lofty realms of austere spirituality , but also in regular mental health . Mental health professionals like psychiatrists and psychoanalysts repeatedly allude to ' repressed ' or hidden emotions being the underlying cause of many emotional ailments .
One of the ways we can learn to be more emotionally aware is when we are in the presence of music . Especially classical music that evokes different emotions in us with different melodic scales or Raagas . This aspect of Indian classical music is unique and powerful . Raagas , because of their unique combinations of flat and sharp notes evoke in us a gamut of emotions which may otherwise be repressed or hidden . And because music is so engaging , disarming and evocative , it is easy for us to feel these emotions and moreover be consciously aware of them . Music doesn ' t judge , music doesn ' t pity . Music just understands you . Like a childhood friend who knows exactly how you feel and can empathize powerfully with you without judging you .
When why cry to a Carnatic Raaga like Subhapanthuvarali , or feel tense when we listen to the Hindustani raag Shree , something profound is happening . We are connecting our inner sorrows and tensions with something powerfully empathetic outside of us . This allows for a cathartic release of those repressed feelings .
There are other ways music can evoke emotions . For instance , through nostalgia . When we connect with music that is familiar from the past , we actually relive those moments as though they are happening again now . Furthermore , we have a chance to reprocess unfinished feelings from that time . This way we are offering closure to repressed unhealthy emotions .
There are several profound instances of Indian Raagas transforming people in powerful and extraordinary ways . As testified by people , we know of instances of Raag Megh helping a chain smoker quit smoking over time , to Raag Malhar gradually helping relieve a person ' s migrane . From Raag Yaman helping a person with anxiety issues to Raag Bilawal helping a weary person get back on his feet , Indian Raagas have shown empirical evidence of helping people become emotionally more aware over time , attaining better mental and physical health in the process .
Just as the world has begun to understand the healing impact of emotional awareness and catharsis through mindfulness practices , we should start to see the potential of music towards achieving this goal . Especially Indian classical music , since it is unparalleled in having a structure that is so intricate and complex and yet so powerfully emotive . It is a treasure we sit on and it is about time we put it to good use .
The Score Magazine
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