What is Indian Clasical Music

The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music at length. The Samaveda was derived from the Rigveda so that its hymns could be sung as Samagana; this style evolved into jatis and eventually into ragas. Indian classical music is both elaborate and expressive. Like Western classical music, it divides the octave into 12 semitones of which the 7 basic notes are, in ascending tonal order, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni. Hindustani music, is similar to Western music's Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do. However, Indian music is dependant on 22 shrutis, which are microtones within that octave. These microtones are not easily discernable to the Western trained ear which is used to the sound of tempered instruments. Indian classical music places great emphasis on improvisation. It is not possible to write precise notation systems for ragas because Hindustani music is in between the notes. It has to be received from the mouth of the guru to understand the application of each sound.

Indian Classical Raga Music and Meditation ( Raga-chikitsa)

This ancient heavenly music is spiritual. It evolved as an adjunct to meditation because it pleases the deities. After Self-realisation, H.H. Shri. Mataji Nirmaladevi's Meditation practised in conjunction with this music(Indian Classical Raga) enables a deeper meditation. The correct application of the particular shrutis (notes) in each raga matches the frequencies of the chakras. This is the basis of Raga chikitsa, the ancient science of healing through music.