From'Music - The Nectar of Life'
AUTHOR
Pt. SHRIRAM SHARMA ACHARYA
Music: A Swara Sadhana of Sabda Brahm
Advanced research on different components of the ‘atom family’ has shown that the orbital motion of the tiny particles in an atom is governed by an energy that is generated by the subtle vibrations of some kind of latent sound. This energy is omnipresent in the interior of Nature and is the fundamental cause of all movements. Eminent scholars of the subtle science describe it to have generated by the eternal sound of Omkara. Omkara is the self-educed expression of the Sabda Brahm. It is the eternal Nada - the root of all swaras (musical notes).
Once oscillated by a swing, the pendulum of a clock continues to move automatically until the clock is on. Similarly, the motion of the Nature, once triggered by the Nada of Omkara continues forever. The cycle of Nature continues like the circular motion of a child’s toy top. Equivalent to the seven colors emitted from the sunrays, the seven basic swaras (musical notes) of Nature are originated from the Swara Brahm of Oam. These swaras are manifested in the musical notes of the octave as - Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni. Remarkably, the major sadhanas of yoga are also seven; namely, the Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prana Yoga, Sakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. The seven (Sapta) manifestations of Sabda in the subtle body are counted as the powers indwelling in the six extrasensory energy-centers (ÌaÚ cakras) and in the seventh the (spiritual core of the individual consciousness) Sahastrara Cakra or the Brahmrandhras. The Brahm Vidya (the esoteric knowledge of the Brahm) is expanded in the form of Sapta Loka, Sapta Sarovara, Sapta Sagara, Sapta Meru, Sapta Deva, Sapta Tirtha and is realized by Sapta Sadhanas that were discovered by the Sapta -Rishis. Incidentally, the materialistic science is also divided into seven (Sapta) major branches.
The upward and downward flow of Prana in the Ida and Pingala Nadis1 generates the vibrations of the seven swaras (of the Nada of Omkara) in the vina of the spinal cord.
These are ‘perceived’ as the seven kinds of subtle sounds produced by the seven‘tongues’ of the serpentine power- the Kundalini. The yogi who links his consciousness with these seven swaras (of cetan) attains the spiritual power that (if aroused) could control the activities of Nature.
The Swara Sastra therefore has an important place in the Yoga Sastras. The yoga sadhana of perfection over the Surya and Candra Swaras (flow of Nada through the solar and the lunar nerves in the Pingala and Ida Nadis respectively) of the prana vayu flowing through the right and the left nostrils is fundamental among the sadhanas of swara yoga.
Every activity in Nature takes place in some kind of cyclic order. The sounds made by animals, birds and even tiny insects bear certain rhythm. The early morning warbling of the birds or the crowing of cocks, etc clearly demonstrates this fact. The voices of nightingales, peacocks, partridges, sparrow hawks etc are also rhythmic with varied degrees of melody. Among the voices of the animals, we can easily find the rhythmic order in the barking of a dog, roaring of a lion or the bleating of a sheep. The overnight singing of the beetles is quite familiar to us. This rhythm of swaras exists in the voice of every creature; even the plants and trees and the jada elements also produce rhythmic sounds, most of which are beyond the grasp of the audio sensors of our ears. The activities of the jada and cetan components of our bodies also generate different melodiesof the swaras that could be sensed by dedicated sadhanas of the Nada Yoga.
A French zoologist, Dr. Vastive Andre, has thoroughly investigated the effects of music on the land animals, aquatic animals and birds. The results of his study indicate that music does affect, with a varied degree of impact, the brain and the nervous system of every creature. If the melody of the music is coherent with its soothing sensation, the animal (or bird) demonstrates a sense of pleasure and energetic activities. However, the sounds of the frequency range or rhythms beyond its natural liking create adverse effects on its health. It is observed that many types of yeast and bacteria are killed by the high pitch rhythmic sound of a bugle. The research of some German zoologists is focused on identifying the special kinds of music that are most suitable for a particular type of animal or bird. They hope that the natural tendencies of the animals could be changed temporarily by the impact of special music. This way, one would be able to control the violent animals and expel or eliminate the insects by special effects of music.
