ADITI SARAWAGI
Uses of Indian Ragas in
Medicine and Healing
Plato said, "music and rhythm find their way
into the secret places of the soul". Have you
often wondered why you feel calmer, energetic
or emotional after hearing a particular piece of
music? It is because music is not only entertaining,
it is therapeutic as well. You subconsciously
reach out to different genres of music according
to your mood and it helps you psychologically.
Imagine, if you could consciously use music to
alter your mood and use music for healing?
Almost every culture in the world recognises
the healing power of music and this goes back to
as far as biblical times where
David played the harp to
rid King Saul of a bad
spirit. Hippocrates, the
Greek father of medicine
also played music for
his patients. After
World War I and II,
musicians would go to
hospitals and play music
for the soldiers. Though
not used extensively these
days, the ancient medical
science of India-Ayurveda
also has a branch-Raga Chikitsa
or Raga Vidya which deals with
music’s healing powers. It is said
that the great composer Tansen could
invoke rainfall by playing Raag Miyan ki
Malhar, light lamps with his rendition of
Raag Deepak and even created Raag Darbari
Kanada to soothe Emperor Akbar’s stress. More
recently, the late Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
headed the Raga Research Centre
in Chennai, where he trained and
conducted research for many years.
There are 72 ragas, which are known as
the Melakarta ragas. Neural research
says that 72 ragas control 72 nerves in the
human body and hence singing a raga at
a particular time will give the performer
control over the corresponding nerve.
Ragas are said to heal when rendered
properly along with the right pitch
and every note is said to have immense
power. Another system of Nada Yoga
says that the music has a high impact
of music on body and mind and the
vibrations emanating from the sounds
uplift one’s level of consciousness and can
positively affect one’s mood and health. Thus,
ragas could work as complementary medicine
and can in turn play an effective role in healing.
The effect of a raga on the human body is
because there is a link between certain sounds
and the chakras or the seven energy centres of
the body. It is said that the chakra is cleansed
by the ragas, thus aiding the body to heal
better and also to bring about a positive change
in one’s attitude and overall wellbeing.
There are many ailments which can be treated
with ragas like
Ahirbhairav helps
in keeping blood
pressure and
hypertension in
check whereas
Raga Malkauns
helps with low
blood pressure
problems. Bageshri is
said to cure insomnia
when heard at night
and Bhim palas cures
Anxiety, Kedar is said to
cure headaches, common
colds, asthma and cough.
These days allopathic medicine is
widely favoured instead of natural
remedies but Ayurveda is something
which has proved successful over the
years and cannot be easily ignored. Music
plays an effective role in maintaining good
health and influences all levels of
human existence. Modern science
and medicine are now rediscovering
the powers of the ragas and
are now working in tandem
with them. The specialized
use of music is becoming more
prominent across the world in
treating both physical and mental
ailments and huge credit for this
goes to the ancient medicinal
practices in India because of
which the whole world is now
waking up to this practice.
The
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