Music and Yoga are complimentary to each other, though on the periphery they seem to be different subjects. Let us discuss in detail.
Omkar and Nadabrahma -
According to Vedic Philosophy, at the beginning of the universe there existed the cosmic sound i.e the ‘nadabrahma’. The activities of the universe began through this ‘nadabrahma’. The manifested form of the ‘nadabrahma’ is ‘Omkar’. Or, in other words we can say that the unmanifested form of ‘Omkar’ is the ‘nadabrahma’. ‘Omkar is the sacred sound of the universe.
In the Patanjal Yogasutras (Verses on Yoga by Rishi Patanjali), Rishi Patanjali says, ‘tasya vachakaha pranavaha’ :1.27, meaning ‘Omkar’ is His (Ishwar’s/Almighty’s) symbol.
Mandukya Upanishad says that all that was, is and will be in the universe is ‘Om’.
Experiencing Nadabrahma -
One of the easiest path of experiencing this ‘nadabrahma’ is music. Sound is a manifested form of the ‘nadabrahma’. Music is the art form of sound. Hence, through music we can enjoy and experience the bliss of the nadabrahma.
There are two types of sound – ‘aahat’ and ‘anahat’. The sound formed by friction is ‘aahat’ and the sound that has always existed in the universe and is formed without any friction is ‘anahat’ sound. This is just a rough definition (as ‘anahat’ being beyond words and languages, anything said will be incomplete). The art of music is the aesthetic form of creation of ‘aahat’ sound. Though music is related with ‘aahat’ sound, it has the potential to become ‘anahat’. It has the capacity to reach the ‘anahat’.
According to Indian traditional culture, there are 64 forms of art. Music is the highest art form. Music includes singing, playing a musical instrument and dancing. Notes, rhythm and tempo (pace) are the basic components of music.
Yoga -
Now, let us see the meaning of ‘Yoga’.
‘Yoga’ means to go beyond mind i.e go in ‘samadhi’. The first commentator of Patanjal Yogasutras, Rishi Vyas says, ‘Yoga samadhihi’ i.e. Yoga means Samadhi (sustaining of the no-mind state).
‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit verb ‘yuja’, meaning ‘to join’. We can say that the process of joining the individual soul (jeevatma) with the cosmic soul(paramatma) is termed as Yoga.
Yoga means to keep, bring the (chitta) ‘here and now’. Rishi Patanjali has defined ‘yoga’ as ‘the halting of the consciousness’ i.e. the ‘chitta’, where ‘chitta’ means the subtle bridge between mind and consciousness.
When we go into the depths of its meaning, we find that the boundries of the word yoga have different aspects. Generalizing the term, we can say that any path that takes you to the realms of ‘moksha’ or self-realization is the path of yoga. Path of knowledge or dnyan yoga, path of penance or meditation i.e. Dhyan yoga, path of surrender and devotion i.e. bhakti yoga, etc.).
The purpose of yoga of self realization is in other words to go beyond duality or become one with the ‘nadabrahma’. This can be easily attained through music. Every and any musician can get glimpses of samadhi.
Yoga and Music -
All human beings know and understand the art of music at least to some extent. Totally deaf people can also experience music as vibrations. As music and Yoga are complimentary to each other Yoga can be of immense help in understanding, learning, performing and teaching music.
To understand how Yoga can be helpful to musicians click here.
Omkar and Nadabrahma -
According to Vedic Philosophy, at the beginning of the universe there existed the cosmic sound i.e the ‘nadabrahma’. The activities of the universe began through this ‘nadabrahma’. The manifested form of the ‘nadabrahma’ is ‘Omkar’. Or, in other words we can say that the unmanifested form of ‘Omkar’ is the ‘nadabrahma’. ‘Omkar is the sacred sound of the universe.
In the Patanjal Yogasutras (Verses on Yoga by Rishi Patanjali), Rishi Patanjali says, ‘tasya vachakaha pranavaha’ :1.27, meaning ‘Omkar’ is His (Ishwar’s/Almighty’s) symbol.
Mandukya Upanishad says that all that was, is and will be in the universe is ‘Om’.
Experiencing Nadabrahma -
One of the easiest path of experiencing this ‘nadabrahma’ is music. Sound is a manifested form of the ‘nadabrahma’. Music is the art form of sound. Hence, through music we can enjoy and experience the bliss of the nadabrahma.
There are two types of sound – ‘aahat’ and ‘anahat’. The sound formed by friction is ‘aahat’ and the sound that has always existed in the universe and is formed without any friction is ‘anahat’ sound. This is just a rough definition (as ‘anahat’ being beyond words and languages, anything said will be incomplete). The art of music is the aesthetic form of creation of ‘aahat’ sound. Though music is related with ‘aahat’ sound, it has the potential to become ‘anahat’. It has the capacity to reach the ‘anahat’.
According to Indian traditional culture, there are 64 forms of art. Music is the highest art form. Music includes singing, playing a musical instrument and dancing. Notes, rhythm and tempo (pace) are the basic components of music.
Yoga -
Now, let us see the meaning of ‘Yoga’.
‘Yoga’ means to go beyond mind i.e go in ‘samadhi’. The first commentator of Patanjal Yogasutras, Rishi Vyas says, ‘Yoga samadhihi’ i.e. Yoga means Samadhi (sustaining of the no-mind state).
‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit verb ‘yuja’, meaning ‘to join’. We can say that the process of joining the individual soul (jeevatma) with the cosmic soul(paramatma) is termed as Yoga.
Yoga means to keep, bring the (chitta) ‘here and now’. Rishi Patanjali has defined ‘yoga’ as ‘the halting of the consciousness’ i.e. the ‘chitta’, where ‘chitta’ means the subtle bridge between mind and consciousness.
When we go into the depths of its meaning, we find that the boundries of the word yoga have different aspects. Generalizing the term, we can say that any path that takes you to the realms of ‘moksha’ or self-realization is the path of yoga. Path of knowledge or dnyan yoga, path of penance or meditation i.e. Dhyan yoga, path of surrender and devotion i.e. bhakti yoga, etc.).
The purpose of yoga of self realization is in other words to go beyond duality or become one with the ‘nadabrahma’. This can be easily attained through music. Every and any musician can get glimpses of samadhi.
Yoga and Music -
All human beings know and understand the art of music at least to some extent. Totally deaf people can also experience music as vibrations. As music and Yoga are complimentary to each other Yoga can be of immense help in understanding, learning, performing and teaching music.
To understand how Yoga can be helpful to musicians click here.
