There is a beautiful story about
gods and music. Apparently, gods became very unhappy with the earthlings
because of strife, wars, and general anarchy in the world. They came to
earth and told earthlings that they will destroy them. However, gods
wanted to give earthlings a chance so they asked them to give a single reason
why they should not be destroyed. “We have produced great beings like
Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, etc. who have given us great teachings”, said
earthlings. Gods retorted that maximum number of human killings have
taken place in the name of religion. Earthlings then recounted the great
technological inventions that mankind has produced to which gods replied that
there are still some 2 billion people living in tremendous hardship and poverty
despite these inventions. The reasoning and response of gods stumped the
earthlings.
Then
somebody said, “we have produced great music”. “Let us hear it”, gods
replied. The world music including Indian ragas, and western classical
music like Bach, Beethoven etc. was played. After listening to the
profound music, tears started flowing down the cheeks of gods.
“Enough”, they said, “you have earned your freedom and right to live”.
Great
music affects humans and gods alike in a deep way. It calms the mind and
produces a great sense of well-being and euphoria. One also
gets a similar experience during deep meditation and samadhi.
In
the beginning was the Word. Almost all the great religions of the world
talk about it. In Patanjali Yoga Darshan, Ishwara
is defined as a special Being who is expressed by the original word Pranav.
What that original word was nobody is sure though in major Yoga commentaries it
is called OM. However, recently scientists have discovered that very soon
after Big Bang, and before anything else appeared in the Universe, primordial
sound waves were produced. Probably that could be the basis of Brahma Nad,
mentioned in Upanishads. Sound has therefore been with us through all our
evolutionary process and is ingrained in all our activities. Music – a
product of sound is therefore a natural outcome of this evolutionary process.
Music
affects brain at different levels. Our moods change with different types
of music. However, at a very deep level its effect is similar to that of
deep meditation. Probably it is a reason why all great religions have
stressed music as a means for praying and meditation.
Indian classical
music – one of the oldest musical systems of the world, has spiritual roots
and is traced to Vedic hymns. Most of the Indian gods and goddess are
shown to carry musical instruments. Similarly in other religions also,
musical chants, hymns and other forms of music have been used since ancient
times to sing the glory of God or to help focus the mind on the spiritual
thoughts.
Why
does music affect the brain in such a deep way and why does it help in
meditation? Recent studies of brain using Positron Emission Tomography
(PET) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) have shown that some type of music activates neural
pathways similar to those associated with euphoria and reward. These
same pathways are activated in response to other pleasurable activities like
eating and sex, which give emotional happiness.
Similarly
in deep meditation, mind focuses on a single thought for a long time.
Thus when contemplation, reflection and samadhi (together called Sanyam
according to Patanjali Yoga Darshan) are done on a single thought for a fairly
long time then it produces the sense of well-being and happiness. In this
process a major portion of the 100 billion neurons of the brain is being used
in a laser like fashion for a single thought. This deep meditation process probably
helps stimulate or “tickles” the pituitary gland, which gives the feeling of well-being.
The exact mechanism, though, is still not understood.
When
we hear soul stirring music, we again get a feeling of well-being. Thus,
the soul stirring music and deep meditative thought has similar
characteristics. The brain therefore appreciates and absorbs the soul stirring
music by creating the same complex thought pattern as that during meditation.
This is the principle of equivalence.
Similar
effects are also seen for different types of music, which produce anger, sadness,
and other human emotions. It is therefore quite possible that
neurological studies on effects of music will serve as a model for studying how
brain works in general and at different levels of thought complexity. As we
evolve intellectually and spiritually, we become increasingly tuned to emotionally
satisfying music, since the brain becomes supple and is able to focus on a
single thought for a long time. Then singing and poetry may become the major
activities of vocal cords with speech being their by-product!
Even
when we produce a great discovery or thought there is a general feeling of
euphoria, happiness, and production of goose pimples. There have been
many celebrated cases in history like the cry of Eureka by Archimedes when he
discovered the principle of buoyancy. Similarly, when Einstein developed
his theory of relativity, he said that getting the thought of principle of
equivalence was the happiest event of his life. Some music and deep
meditation also produce goose pimples and the feeling of tremendous happiness.
Thus music can help and enhance the activities of meditation and other creative
activities.
Music
can also play an important role in building a compassionate and creative
society. In India, if we can continuously expose our children from early age to
the great Indian and World music then it is possible to help produce a
generation of citizens who are compassionate and less violent. Music
should therefore form an important part of school curriculum.
Published as an editorial
article in Times of India. 10 April 2002.
Modified and links
added August 2021.