Ragachikitsa

Raagachikitsa as an interdisciplinary approach to healing


The Indian Samavedic 1. concept of absolute laya of chitha in Naadabrahmam (Naadalayayoga)2 is the basis for Raagachikitsa. The physical ,mental,intellectual and spiritual health of the Naadalayayogi is achieved through music.The effect of such healing music3 is studied with special reference to one of the contemporary singers as prototypes.( K.J.Yesudas)4
The interdisciplinary approach of Yoga5, Ayurveda6, Thanthra 7,Manthrasasthra8 and jyothisha9 and medical knowledge10 to Indian music and musicology is made use of.The quest is ultimately into the realm of one’s own self Athma11 ,through a medium of music and its aesthetic values in the Indian psyche ,for achieving peace,harmony and universal love.
As a part of the study, 72 melakartharaagaas12 were composed in Malayalam , A pilot project done in Amritha institute of medical sciences, Cochin to verify whether the raagachikitsa can be advised to be recommended on a policy basis in medical curriculum.

The problem was approached from the following points.

1.Raaga music is india’s ancient cultural heritage and how the theory and practice of it is well documented An attempt to do a comparison of the eastern and western concepts of therapy.

2.The need for recommending an interdisciplinary and wholistic programme linking science and art, for betterment of society,, alleviation of pain,, for overall physical, mental ,intellectual and spiritual health of our citizens. The need of a Mahaadvaitha, for the separatist tendencies of the present age.

3.There is an archetypal picture in every Indian mind just as Jung (13) had described in his psychoanalysis.I studied the presence of the archetypal Krishna and Rama ,in two historical singers,Meerabai and Tyagaraja, and then tried to study this archetypal/historical influence or effect on two 20th century singers, M.S. Subbulaxmi and K.J.Jesudas and the musical and social effect , the latter produced on Indian society ..


4.The need to have an educational and hospitalbased programme, with an attached university and a traditional Gurukulam, a curriculum and syllabus suited to the needs and combining the valuesystems and modern scientific research techniques.

5 The chakra (biological and cosmic) and the universal energy cycles and the musical mathematical patterns of raaga follow the same Euler principles 14(probability and complex numbers of Cardano,a physician, which was elaborated by Euler,and on which western music also is based and which is the basis for the new quantum theory of universe)and this was used from the date of the saamaveda.
The lifestyle, the philosophy of life and the yogic, musical traditions and its vedic , vedanthic , mathematical proofs was experimented with ,to achieve good results , in a modern scientific , hospital and university based environment 15.16
The need of using Indian music(raagabased) for prevention and cure of diseases in hospitals as part of narrative medicine, and alternative therapy and in homes as family medicine and rural medicine to meet the requirements of India. For a costeffective, safe medicare system, enjoyable by both client(clientoriented) and the professional doctor collecting data for further research and documentation (as EBM)
Ref :
1.The Saaman chants .A review of research .Indian musicological society .Bombay , Baroda,1985.G.H.Tarlikar..

2Nadalayayoga. Nadabindu Upanishad q: Without a stumble. A book on the spirituality of music: Dr Suvarna Nalapat. Nalapat books. 2003

3Healing with the voice.creating harmony through the power of sound. James d’Angelo Harper .Collins.2000.

4 Sudhasindhu . Commentary of 14 major upanishads .D.C.Books.Kottayam.2003. Dr Suvarna Nalapat.

5 Pathanjali yogasutras. Swami Prabhavananda. sriramakrishna math. Mylapore. chennai.1994


6 Thanthric texts.ed Arthur Avalon.Sharadatilakathanthram part 1.ch 1.published for Agamanusandhanasamithy.
Calcutta 1933.

7Sangheethachikitsa in ayurveda Dr Santhosh kumar.Keraleeya ayurveda samajam vaidyamadam smaranika pp 131-139.

8Varnamala. Studies in Manthrasasthra. Sir John Woodroffe. 1922.Ganesh &co.Thambuchetty street .chennai.

9.Panchasidhanthika of Varahamihira(astronomy and cosmology AD 427)commentary by DR Suvarna Nalapat N.B.S Kottayam 2nd ed 2000.

10 Jettison’s review of first 20 yrs of publications in USA by NAMT. Music therapy . Annual books proceedings 1952-63,Journal of Music therapy .1964-72.(Q: in Music therapy ,an act beyond words. Leslie Bunt . 1994. Routledge.

11 Brahmasindhu. Commentary on Brahmasoothra .D.C.Books Kottayam 2006. Dr Suvarna Nalapat

12Melakartharaaga( For Hearing experience.) CD sung by Dr K.J.Yesudas, and CD sung by Bhuvaneswari ,concept by Dr Suvarna Nalapat.

13Jung. selected writings Introduced by Anthony storr.A Fontana press original.1983.

14 Shadows of mind. Roger Penrose. Vintage1994..pp 256,219,197, 198,220,245-6,294-5

15 Metzger,L.Kay J of Music therapy spring 2004.Assessment and use of music by patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation.

16.Nadalayasindhu Part 1.Ragachikitsa;part 2.Management and education.(including curriculum for Indian music therapy) Dr Suvarna Nalapat.