Origin Of Indian Classical Music

Indian Classical Music or the Hindustani music is one of the most ancient, oldest, culturally rich and enriching kind of music to exist. It has been around us for centuries and centuries. It goes back all the way to the 12th century CE, the time when not only the skill but learning Indian Classical Music came into existence. And then, it diverged into various kinds such as the Hindustani music or the North Indian classical music and the Carnatic music, the classical tradition in South India. It is played in instruments like the violin, sitar, and sarod as well as sung in various kinds of dialects and ways.

One of the two principal types of South Asian classical music, found mainly in the northern three-fourths of the subcontinent, where Indo-Aryan languages are spoken.

Hindustani classical music arose in the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb. It was considered as a period of great influence of Perso-Arabic arts in the subcontinent, especially the Northern parts. It became famous all around for its uniqueness and the kind of effect it held, in its melody and its structural pattern. Furthermore, it was a well-defined system or arrangement with set rules which were convenient to follow and hence maintaining the system in its balanced form yet enjoyable for all the listeners and the audience.

Purpose

It’s no secret that Indian Classical Music holds so many heavenly, or we can say hidden magical powers or experiences which relaxes us all in so many ways that we cannot even fathom. If only we could learn Indian Classical Music to horn such skills, we can easily learn to control our minds, just as well we can control our bodies. Many people love Indian classical music for its meditative, immersive and uplifting nature. It provides a sense of peace and elation. Not just hearing, but even learning Hindustani Classical Music opens up our mind to such new experiences and new horizons that we were never exposed to before.

Because of its contemplative, spiritual nature, Indian classical music is a solitary pursuit that focuses mainly on melodic development.

Power Of Indian Classical Music

So far it is known that classical music stimulates the main action centre of the brain, the pituitary gland, whose secretions have impact on the nervous system. The vibrations from instrumental music vibrate the body cells and thus improves blood circulation and bone health.

Indian Classical Music has been known since ancient times for its extraordinary potential as a therapeutic aid for providing relief in certain ailments of the body and the mind. Learning Indian Classical Music, or listening to the soulful, rhythmic tunes of classical Ragas has an endless positive impact on the brain, heart, nervous system, blood circulation, metabolism, and the ability to control the state of mind. Music therapy through Indian Classical Music  has been in practice as alternative or complementary to curative therapy for ages. In present times, extensive research is being conducted to establish the scientific ground behind the power of music to alleviate different physiological disorders. 

Research shows the benefits of music therapy for various mental health conditions, including depression, trauma, and schizophrenia (to name a few). Learning Indian Classical Music, listening to the calming melodious tunes of it can now help us in more ways than ever. It acts as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief—but music can also be utilized as a regulating or calming agent for anxiety or for dysregulation. 

Studies have found that listening to music can help calm your nervous system and lower cortisol levels, both of which can help reduce stress. And the same goes for making music; research shows that creating can help release emotion, decrease anxiety and improve overall mental health.

Research shows that music can have a beneficial effect on brain chemicals such as dopamine, which is linked to feelings of pleasure, and oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone.” And there is moderate evidence that music can help lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.