Yoga of Sound: Indian Classical Music as Contemplative Practice

Indian classical music is rooted in the ancient philosophy of nada-yoga, or union through sound. Both theoreticians and practitioners appreciated the immediate appeal of music and song, but they also understood sound, particularly the elaboration of ragas, as a vehicle for spiritual growth and ultimately a path to moksha, or salvation. Ragas are unique melodic landscapes that an artist unfolds and explores over time. In addition to traditional musical parameters passed down from guru to shishya, each raga is associated with a specific time of day, season and emotive quality. In this context, a raga in performance is an aesthetic experience that connects both performer and listener to the subtle vibrations of nature and time. In the timeless words of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, “Indian music is based on spiritualism and was practiced and learned to know the Supreme Truth. A musician must lift up the souls of the listeners and take them towards Space.”