Centre for Music Therapy

Birth of 'Raga Therapy'

'Raga therapy' initiated by the Nada Centre for Music Therapy under the guidance of the alternative therapist Dr.T V Sairam on 9th April 2005 at Lebenshilfe, Visakhapatnam, an organization at striving for the welfare of 454 mentally challenged children in a new direction to identify those ragas which influence the mind, emotions and behaviour of the mentally challenged people.

This is a modest attempt to seek a scientific endorsement and to evaluate the usefulness of those ragas which are known for their therapeutic significance.

As a part of this research project, a three day workshop was organized at Lebenshilfe, which was attended by psychologists, sociologists, musicians and volunteers for the special children. The workshop focused on the need of revival of the ancient concepts of nada and raga towards the welfare of the mentally retarded.

The workshop had sessions on the concept of nada, resonance and rhythms, the relevance of sound and silence that makes or mars our sensory experience, esoteric practices like nada yoga etc. The jargons such as sound, noise and music were explained with illustrations and demonstrations. The sound emanations in nature, particularly in the elements that constitute our body, like the fire, water, earth and wind were demonstrated with appropriate musical pieces drawn from the systems belonging both the West and the East besides the rich fold and tribal heritage. Analysing, appreciating and 'internalizing' music was explained with practical demonstrations drawn from the age old Nada Yoga.

The sessions also included the discussion on the levels of sound- consciousness: para, pashyanti, madhyama and vaikhari, which can be identified with delta, theta, alpha and beta wave-patterns, known to the modern brain researchers.

In essence, the workshop made an attempt to classify the ragas into two categories: the beta(which induces "fresh air" and alertness) and alpha (which relaxes and benumbs the "tormented soul") Musicians, psychologists and behaviour therapists formed part of this team. Beta characteristics identified in the Western music e.g., the sound structures as in toccata, rapidly played in piano, the dictatorial definiteness one can feel in certain symphonies of great Western maestros like Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky or Vivaldi were compared with the Indian ragas, whose compositions were set in medium or high speed with less oscillating notes. Certain ragas were identified for current experimental needs to activate the mental and behavioural (gestural) processes and experimented upon in practical sessions, which brought out positive results and were documented with audio and video aids.

At the end of the workshop, there was a consensus among the participants in the feedback session on the methodology adopted and efficacies of ragas, chosen.

The high light of the programme was that the volunteers who had problems interacting with the severely retarded amongst them with ease and confidence very confident to face even the severely retarded with the use of beta ragas. The use of music had no doubt given them the required confidence to face the severely retarded more professionally.

Plot #: 11/25, Jothi Ramalingam Street, Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091, India. Phone#: +91 44 22420341.