“Music gives wings to the mind” – Plato

Music is undeniably one of the most powerful guiding forces in life. It is a healing spark that transcends all realms of being, right from the East to the West, from the mind to the littlest toe on our feet, while cascading all boundaries of caste, culture and creed! As concerns with mental health continue to grow, Music has been on an upward trajectory as a key intervention in promoting overall wellness.

Indian Classical Music:

Hindustani Music and Carnatic Music are the very foundations of Indian Classical Music. They share similarities in the usage of “ragas,” or melodies scales with fixed notes. Each raga is associated with and can evoke a specific mood or emotion, like happiness, sad, excitement, calm, quarrel, etc in the mind of the listener. A few examples include:

1. Happiness: Desh, Yaman, Ragesree, and Jog are considered calm and happy in Hindusthani Music. In Carnatic music, ragas like Amrithavarshini, Reethigowla, Nattai, and Abheri are also considered happy.

2. Sadness: Ragas like Malkauns, Shree, Marwa, Miyan ki Todi, and Basant Mukhari and Lalit are considered sad or tense. In Carnatic music, the likes of Shivaranjani and Vasantha Bhairavi can also be sad, depending on how they are singing. 

3. Other emotions:

●      Compassion: Kaanada

●      Devotion: Dwijavanti

●      Sensuality: Khamas

●      Wonder: Behag

●      Rage: Atana

●      Darkness, stability, and calmness: Bageshri

●      Tension: Darbari

●      Naata: Pride

●      Fear: Revathy

In addition to the moods evoked by different Ragas, each Raga has a specific period of the day during which its effects are best experienced. For instance, Ragas Desh, Jog and Bhoopali are sung in the evening while Bilahari, Thodi and Malayamarutha are sung in the morning!

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Music Therapy and its Effects:

According to the American Music Therapy Association, “Music Therapy is the clinical & evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualised goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy programme." Several research studies conducted in this area have revealed the therapeutic effects of music, highlighting its benefits as a mental health intervention. A few proven effects of Indian Classical Music include:

1. Emotional experience:

Indian Classical Music is composed of several ragas of varying frequencies which affect our moods as mentioned previously. When feeling low, one can listen to compositions in the Ragas Mohana and Kadanakuthoohala. When feeling perturbed, one can listen to Ragas Bilahari and Darbari Kannada. All you need to do is listen to the mentioned ragas for a brief period of 10 to 15 minutes, and there you go!

2. Spirituality-

The Indian Classical System of Music has an inherent association with spirituality. It provides an escape from worldly distress to a tranquil realm of serenity. It instills hope, self-acceptance, mindfulness, self-awareness and self-esteem in the minds of listeners.

3. Reducing stress, anxiety and depression-

Listening to Indian Classical Music can release dopamine, or the 'feel-good' chemical, which helps improve your mood by blocking stress. Listening to Ragas like Bilahari, Bhimpalasi, etc inculcate positivity and create a calming environment in everyday life. Mohana Raga is especially used to improve symptoms of Depression in patients.

4. Listening to Indian Classical Music helps improve patience, reduce tension and infuse confidence.

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Healthy Habits with Music

1. Vocalise: Sing your heart out using karaoke tracks. You are the main character of your song and your life, love!

2. Play an instrument- Cultivate hobbies like playing the Violin, Veena etc which prove to be an effective remedy for boredom and dejection. By playing Indian Classical Instruments, you can develop a disciplined routine that will help you repel negative thoughts.

3. Groove to Music- Something as simple as clapping, snapping your fingers and tapping your feet to the beat can help you forget your worries!

4. Create- Write your own lyrics and compose your own song. And see the magic that happens, love! Making music is one of the best ways to express yourself, devoid of any flimsy judgement. "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words."-Victor Hugo.

Traditional Indian Music, with its proven impact on listeners' mental wellness, instills a resilient mindset, capable of traversing adverse situations within our mind. It helps us navigate inner floods of challenges for us to eventually reach a warm, peaceful shore of clarity, all while holding a joy-flavored candy! I sincerely encourage everyone to indulge in the comforting warmth of Indian Classical Music because

"Music can heal the wounds that medicine cannot touch." Debasish Mridha.

For professional help, talk to a therapist at Heart It Out today!