Jeevan Sangeet

Music Therapy For stress management

By research in modern medicine it has been proved beyond doubt that 90% of diseases are caused by stress. Therefore it is necessary to understand the reasons of stress and to take measures to control it. Let us first understand the mental stress. Usually there are two systems are at work in our body.

System at rest
System during an emergency

Normally “The internal milieu (Homeostasis)” in the body is maintain by proper blood supply to all the organs, digestion and immunity. During an emergency situation the other systems to maintain the internal milieu come in to force. This systems help – flight or fight with the emergency situation. This leads to increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, increase supply of oxygen and nutrients, increase respiratory rate and increase in blood sugar level. These changes are caused by secretion of hormones like adrenalin, noradrenalin & corticosteroids.

In animals though both systems are at work, they return to normalcy much quicker than in human being, ones the emergency situation is over.

In human beings the things are quite deferent. Even when the person is sitting quietly many different thought about his past, present and future are constantly storming his brain. The person reacts to this by different emotions. In ancient literature also nine different emotions are described.

Shringar, Veer, Karun, Adbhut, Hasya, Raudra, Bhayanak, Bibhatsa and Shant.

The stress induced by these emotions can be neutralized by various forms of arts like Drawing, literature and music. If this neutralization doesn’t take place it can lead to mental, physical and emotional disturbances. This stress is of two type.

Acute stress
Chronic stress

The chronic stress causes increase secretion of adrenalin, noradrenalin & corticosteroids. This ultimately can induce many psychosomatic disorders: indigestion, constipation, palpitation, breathlessness, asthma, heart attack, migraine, diabetes, cancer and accidents (industrial, road traffic etc?)

The main causes of Chronic Stress

Physical imbalance – faulty lifestyle, lack of exercise and uncontrolled acute stress causes physical and mental imbalance. As computer requires “Refresh” every now and then, our body and mind also required rest. If body and mind are deprived of proper rest it can caused mental stress. Over ambitious people without realizing their physical limitations are constantly restless, and therefore they are always under physical and mental stress. To rejuvenate them they badly require proper sleep, exercise, entertainment, yoga, etc. and if not, this people and their relative and friends have to pay a heavy prize.
Decision making - when one is faced with a dilemma of taking decision which has long term effects on lives of many, there is an acute stress. If the decision is postponed it leads to chronic stress which in turn will reduce both physical and mental stamina.
Pressure – In every walk of life we see a situation “less time and many jobs to do” it leads to pressure. Pressure of jobs, senior, colleges, persons own conscious’ leads to stress. That is why one needs time management, expertise, self confidence, positive attitude, proper communication to prevent chronic stress.
Changes in life – any new change, till one is use to it create stress. For example new home, new job, mobile, vehicle, lifestyle, monitory constrain, even change in sleeping place lead to stress which in turn causes physical and mental degradation. For this one has to accept the reality, belief in noble work, communication skill, selfless service will help one to get rid of stress.

Today’s world is a world of competition. Here every individual succeeds with his own efforts. During this journey to success he has to face many hurdles: future prospects, fear, competition with colleges, hate rate, unsafe filling, etc. slowly and steadily one overcomes these hurdles and proves himself. But ones the challenge is over there is a huge vacuum which causes mental stress, depression and addictions. Therefore a road to success has to be with clear conscious. For this one has to have positive attitude, teamwork, and lack of ego, forgiveness, consistency and constant desire to excel. With the proper use of different arts the stress on body and mind can be properly reduce. With the proper expression of arts human thoughts are diverse which reduces stress and difficulties are consider negligible and eliminated. The mind becomes emotionally flexible. According to modern research these changes are due to secretion of Endorphin, Encephalin in the brain and the brain becomes more alert and fresh. The physical and mental stress disappears, and the person becomes full of vigor and energy. Therefore from ancient time in the study of human physiology the Art of Music has got prime important. Likewise, with the research in different subjects and sciences musical therapy is used from ancient time. Human Psychology, bio-chemistry, biology, space research, modern technology, and computer technology in these branches the research in musical therapy has got prime importance. The musical therapy is increasingly used in many ailments: indigestion, rheumatic arthritis, hypertension, insomnia, gallstones, sinusitis, anxiety, depression, anorexia, headache, asthma, cough, constipation, diarrhea, spondylitis, sleep disorders, common cold, colitis, anemia, etc.

Therapy

We get experience after every act. This experience when we use in a particular way we get the skill to acquire that experience, and through this skill we get knowledge about that work. Cumulative knowledge creates science. Accordingly in human history various sciences are developed through this experience and skill. All the arts which man has acquired can be divided in three main groups.

Aakrutibandh – this includes the arts like drawing, sculptures which required visual to create.
Sahitya (Literature)- the word, language, adjectives, grammar are born through thought process.
Sangeet (Music)– Anahat naad (sound) & Aahat naad (sound)- with the use of different sounds in the nature Sangeet (Music) is born.

Through Aakrutibandh and literature many therapies can be practiced. For ex. With the study of anatomy we can do operations, with the use of Aakrutibandh and literature we can restore hormonal levels to normal, exercise, yoga, color combinations, language, introspection, suggestion, etc. in Aakrutibandh there are hurdles about shape, size and color and in literature word, language and grammar create thought blocks. But music has a special place as it occupies entire universe. Therefore music therapy can be used independently or along with other form of therapies.

Music Therapy

Anahat naad therapy – the sound of music invades entire universe. Therefore, the planets, stars, DNA-RNA, all are moving constantly in a particular tempo. The movements of planets and stars, the high and low tide of sea, arrival and departure of different seasons, the sound of leaves, the breath sounds of living, in fact laughing, walking, talking, eating, crying and singing in all this things we find a particular tempo (laya). This tempo is a part of this Anahat naad. This Anahat naad cannot be perceived normally, but the Yogi’s, and rushi-muni’s who attained the ultimate Samadhi by nonstop Omkar sadhna they experienced these ultra small elements and they discovered many wonder secretes in the world. This sound of music is called Anahat naad. With the help of this Anahat naad we can effectively bring out many changes on many things in this universe. With a regular Swar sadhna we can hear this Anahat naad initially as the sound created by cricket, then slowly by sweet sound of a bell and lastly the sound of Omkar we hear clearly. While listening to this sound the physical and mental constrains on the body and mind disappear and body and mind attain spiritual freedom. In scientific terms this can be explain as increase secretions of Endorphin and Encephalin in the brain gives new spiritual energy to the body. Initially we cannot listen to Anahat naad because of constant thought process. But we all can listen the inner voice. In daily routine we neglect this inner voice of body and mind. And we take hasty decisions, by using only physical wisdom. And this physical wisdom we call as knowledge. But our subconscious mind is very sensitive. Every event and everything in the physical, mental and spiritual world is being analyzed by our subconscious mind. For this analysis the subconscious mind utilizes its acquired knowledge and gives suggestions to the brain. To attain physical, mental and spiritual progress we must listened to this inner voice regularly.
Aahat naad therapy – When Anahat naad acquires a specific density because of any reason we can hear it that is Aahat naad. This sound which we can listen is utilized in music therapy. Every human body is trying to dissolve itself into surrounding tempo of Aahat naad. And that is why our heart rate increases while listening to fast and loud rhythm and heart rates slow down when we listen to soft slow rhythm. The quality, sharpness, loudness and tempo of sound are utilized in this therapy. Following things are mainly utilized in this therapy.
Omkar sadhna therapy - The vibrations created by musical sound act upon nervous system of the body. And then these vibrations are controlled and then send to every cell of the body. Which gives the body the new life and new spiritual energy. In the history an example is Pandit Thyagraj made one dead person alive by recitation of a composed piece of music. In Omkar sadhna these vibrations can be effectively utilize on body, mind and soul. For this therapy 21 types of omkara can be used.
Aakrutibandh and Music therapy – The music therapy can be utilize in various forms of yogasana, exercise, dance and drama. The human body and mind can be made by strong and flexible by this combined therapy.
Literature and Music therapy – As imbalance behavior and food disturbs harmony of the body similarly wrong sanskar causes imbalance of the mind. Through the medium of art we can restore the balance of the mind and give it a proper shape. For this music is used along with Sant Sahitya, Dhrupad, Dhamar, mantra, Abhanga, Shloka, etc. Cultural evolution, cognitive therapy, rational emotive therapy are used along with this therapy. So this therapy can be used to reduce acute and chronic stress. But, one has to be skeptical while choosing literature for this therapy. We must use the literature which can give spiritual strength.
Raaga chikitsa – by using creative energy man has given music various Ragaas and ragini’s. every Raaga is in tandem with many human emotions and human nature. And that is why by using different Swar in a given Ragaa we can controlled human emotion and nature. According to the different seasons, day & night timings, different emotional situation Ragaa’s are divided in to different division. Because of Raag chikitsa many diseases dependent upon physical, mental and emotional situation can be cured.
Adhyatmik chikitsa – In the world VEDA’s are consider as basics of the oldest and enriched Hindustani Sanskruti. That’s why Veda’s have immense religious importance. According Hindu religious spiritual science human existence is divided in to Sthul deh and Sukshma deh. Which are inter dependant on each other.

Sthula deha - Pruthvi, Aap, Tej, Vaayu & Aakash- Panchamahabhutik deha = Human body.

Sukshma deha - Praan, Vyaan, Apaan, Udaan and Samaan = Either body.
-Manodeha, Vasnadeha = Ectoplasm.

Karan deha - Dnyan deha, Vidnyan deha and Aanand deha = Ishwar deha.

Because of any reason the balance between Sthula deha and Sukshma deha is disturb the body and mind are deteriorated towards death. Every Sthula deha works on the inspiration of Sukshma deha. While Sukshma deha is composed of Satva, Raja and Tama. Because of proper coordination of these three Vrutti Aatma is working on Bhu, Rbhuvaha, Swaha, Maha, Janaha, Tapaha and Satyam these seven levels. Muladhar, Swadhishthan, Manipur, Anahat, Vishuddha, Aadnya and Sahastrar by doing sadhna of these seven chakra’s man can do a good job on these seven levels and then ultimately can attain Moksha. Sangeet made of seven Swara’s is a very important medium. By proper education of Sangeet art any human being can gate the knowledge of Muladhar, Swadhisthan and Swaswrup. But for this Sangeet cannot be looked upon as medium of an entertainment or to earn money. Instead Sangeet should be used to understand the self - ko aham?