Friday, July 14, 2017

Indian classical music (Ragas) & their benefits health and spiritual benefits

Indian classical music (Ragas) & their benefits

In Indian classical music each of the six basic musical modes which express different moods in certain characteristic progressions, with more emphasis placed on some notes than others.

These are called Ragas.

While the raga is a remarkable and central feature of classical Indian music tradition, it has no direct translation to concepts in the classical European music tradition.[4][5] Each raga is an array of melodic structures with musical motifs, considered in the Indian tradition to have the ability to "color the mind" and affect the emotions of the audience


1. Ahir Bhairav:
Gives free relaxed feeling and mitigates dust allergies and skin disease. Good for arthritic conditions

2. Amrutavarshini:
Ushana vyathi nasini ( alleviates diseases related to heat)

3. Ananda Bhairavi:
Suppresses stomach pain in both men and women. Reduces kidney type problems. Controls blood pressure

4. Bagesri:
Helps in attaining Guru's grace

5. Bhairavi:
Reduces anxiety, pressures, skin, disease, allergies

6. Bhupala:
To awaken someone out of deep sleep

7. Charukesi:
26th raga in the melakarta scale (parent) of the south Indian classical music. Rejuvenates the mind helping one to age gracefully. It enlivens the singer and listener.

8. Desh:
The suppression of the senses releases a negative force. The process of sublimation needs a spiritual path. Rag Desh can provide that. Its energy gives the listener serenity, peace, inner joy, right valor, universal love and patriotism

9. Dwijavanti:
Quells paralysis and sic orders of the mind

10. Ganamurte:
Helpful in diabetes

11. Hamsadhwani:
Energy giving. Provides good thinking, chaitanya. Sarvarogaharini (panacea)

12. Hemavati:
Good for joint and back pain

13. Hindolam:
Improves digestive power. Cures stomach related. problems

14. Kalyani:
Gives energy and removes tension and acts as general tonic. Dispels the darkness of fear; Gives motherly comfort and increases confidence. Kalyani means mangalam. Recited with faith and devotion, it is believed to clinch marriage alliances. Many authentic reports exist about the raga's power to destroy fear in many forms: fear of poverty, of love, of power, of ill-health, of death, and so on.

15. Kapi:
Sick patients get over their depression, anxiety. Reduces absent mindedness

16. Karaharapriya:
Curative for heart disease and nervous irritability, neurosis, worry and distress.

17. Kedaram:
Gives energy and removes tension

18. Keervani:
Promotes dhyana (meditation) at mental and physical levels

19. Kokilam:
Helps to prevent stone formation, burning sensations, sleeplessness and anxiety.

20. Madhuvarshini:
Good for nerves. Cures diseases like slight headache, sleeplessness, and sinus problems.

21. Madhyamavati:
Clears paralysis, giddiness, pain in legs/hands, etc. and nervous complaints

22. Malaya Maruta:
To awaken someone out of deep sleep

23. Maya Malava Gowla:
Counters pollution. It can be called the Gateway to Carnatic music. The history of Camatic music says that the blessed musician, Purandaradasar, introduced the system of Mayamalava gowla. This raga has the power to neutralize toxins in the body. Practicing it in the early hours of the morning, in the midst of nature will enhance the strength of the vocal chords.

24. Mohanam:
Mohanam is present where beauty and love coexist. It filters out the ill-effects of kama (desire for sex) , krodha (anger) and moha (lust), bestowing immense benefits on the listener. Also said to sures chronic headaches, indigestion, and depression.

25. Neelambari:
To get rid of insomnia

26. Ranjani:
Cures kidney disease

27. Rathipathipriya:
Adds strength and vigor to a happy wedded life. This 5-swara raga has the power to eliminate poverty. The prayoga of the swaras can wipe off the vibrations of bitter feelings emitted by ill will

28. Rohini:
Cures back pain, joint pain, etc.

29. Sama:
Makes mind sober, tranquil, induces good sleep. Good for world peace.

30. Saramati:
Elevates from depressed state. Cures balagraha dosham in children ( undiagnosed crying and irritability). For sleeplessness, itching, eye and ear problems, skin problems, and the problems of hearing irregular sounds

31. Sindu Bhairavi:
Removes sins and sorrows and saves from unforeseen events

32. Sivaranjani:
Powerful raga for meditation; bestows benevolence of God. Removes sadness, ushana roga santi (diseases related to excess heat). Good for general health

33. Sandhya Kalyani:
Cures ear, nose and eye diseases. Relieves chronic clods. Gives good sleep and freshness

34. Shankarabharanam:
The power of this raga is incredible. It cures mental illness, soothes the turbulent mind and restores peace and harmony. If rendered with total devotion for a stipulated period, it can cure mental disorders said to be beyond the scope of medical treatment. It also is said to have the power to shower wealth.

35. Shanmugapriya:
Sharpens the intellect of the singer as well as the listener. Instills courage in one's mind and replenishes the energy in the body.

36. Subhapantuvarali:
Alleviates mental dilemmas and indecisiveness

37. Suddha dhanyasi:
Remover of sorrows. Gives a happy feeling. Tonic for nerves. Cures rhinitis and migraine.

38. Suruti:
Mitigates stomach burn, insomnia, fear, disgust

39. Vakulabharanam:
Alleviates asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, depression, skin disease and skin

40. Varali:
Varali is good for vayu tatva, heart, skin ailments and gastric problems.

41. Vasanta / Vasanti:
Controls high and low blood pressure, cures heart as well as nervous diseases. Can dear the fog of confusion when a series of medical tests has to be analysed. It heals nervous breakdowns.

42. Vasantham:
Cures paralysis

43. Viswambari:
General tonic, acts quickly

44. Yamuna Kalyani:
Gives freshness and dynamism

Thanks
Dilpreet Singh
dilpreet111@gmail.com

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Pancha Bhuta kritis - five elements- space, air, fire, water and earth.

Early thinkers have written that all creation is made up of five elements- space, air, fire, water and earth. As per the Taittriya Upanishad these elements came from the Supreme Being. Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntala begins with the verse “yA shrShTihi shrAShTurAdhyA bhavati…” which traces all creation to the divine couple Parvati and Parameshwara thereby embodying them as the Supreme source of all creation. In South India, on the same lines, there are five important temples, all dedicated to Lord Shiva, each one of them representing him as one of the five elements.
Chidambaram is the shrine where Shiva is worshipped as Space. The sanctum has the world-famous icon of Nataraja, the dancing deity beside which is an empty space referred to as Chidambara Rahasyam or the secret of Chidambaram. The very word Chidambaram is full of cosmic symbolism for it refers to the space within the heart of the devotee where the Lord is said to be in cosmic dance as depicted by Nataraja. This space is also called daharAkAsha. Dikshitar’s kriti here is Ananda naTana prakAsham in raga kEdAra. The song opens with the lines describing the Lord as being effulgent in dance and as the Lord of Sivakamavalli. The first lines of the anupallavi, emphasising the space motif, describe the Lord’s effulgence as being equal to many suns. It then states that he pervades daharAkAsha and grants salvation. The last line of the anupallavi has the legend behind the temple as it states that Shiva displayed himself with an uplifted foot to Patanjali and Vyaghrapada here. The charanam, continuing on the space theme, says the Lord bears the moon and the Ganga (which is believed to be of heavenly origin) and has a blue neck, the colour blue once again indicating space. The importance of Chidambaram as the foremost Shaivaite shrine is emphasised when the composer says Nataraja here is the basis for all shrines beginning with Kedara. The raga name is also incorporated here. Legend has it that 3000 sages left for Chidambaram from Kailasa and on reaching their destination found one missing. The Lord then indicated that He was that person and counting Him in would make 3000. This is highlighted in the line “bhUsura trisahasra munIshvaram”. The song, in keeping with one dedicated to a dancing deity has sollukattus to be sung at the end of the anupallavi and charanam.

shrI kAlahastIsha in raga Huseni is on Shiva as Vayu Linga. A lamp that keeps flickering in the rather airless sanctum shows the manifestation of Shiva as air here. The song says Shiva is like the zephyr to His devotees. The anupallavi states that He is the life breath of the Gods and manifests as the five elements, for all five have shrines for themselves here. The shrine is referred to Dakshina Kailasa (the Southern equivalent to Kailasa). The charanam says the Lord here is the consort of Gnanaprasoonambika. The last line speaks of Kannappa Nayanar as the lowly huntsman who worshipped the Lord here and made the shrine famous. The raga mudra is in the line prANamayakOshAnIla bhUmi salila agni prakAsha. In the Dikshitar system this raga was called UshAni.

The Lord manifests as fire at Tiruvannamalai. Called Arunachalanatha, His consort here is Apitakuchamba. The song in sAranga, aruNAcalanAtham, mentions Her in the pallavi. Simply thinking of Arunachala is said to grant salvation and Dikshitar states this in the opening line of the anupallavi as smaraNAt kaivalya prada. Taking fire as the theme, he says the Lord is like many suns at dawn. The charanam says that He is the ancient effulgent Shiva Linga. It has been scientifically proven that the rock of Arunachala is one of the oldest on earth and has a fiery origin, either a volcanic eruption or a meteor strike. The Linga itself is unusual for it is grey in colour bringing to mind a stone of volcanic origin. Dikshitar states that the Lord bears a Saranga (deer) in His hand, thereby bringing in the raga mudra. The madhyamakAla charanam begins with viprOttama viShEshAntarangam, bringing to mind the special grace shown to Gnanasambanda at this shrine. The last line once again brings in the fire motif – the Lord’s effulgence puts the sun, the moon and fire to shame. sAranga is a synonym for camphor, an easily flammable substance.

jambUpatE in raga Yamuna (also the name of a river) is on Shiva as water, in which form He is worshipped at Tiruvanaikka near Trichy. The sanctum of Shiva always has water from the Kaveri seeping in and in the rainy season it floods the shrine. This is a song steeped in fluid symbolism. The pallavi asks the Lord to give the nectar of bliss. The anupallavi states that He is worshipped by Brahma who is seated on the lotus which is born in water and that He quenches the fires (sorrows) of the heart. Then it states that He is the Lord of the rivers Sindhu, Ganga, Kaveri, Yamuna (also the raga mudra) and Goddess Akhilandeshwari who has a throat like a conch (which is of water origin). The charanam refers to the sthala puranam and says that the Lord here is the water Linga worshipped by the daughter of the mountains and residing at sAmajATavi (the forest of elephants).

Shiva in the form of earth is worshipped in Kanchipuram. Here he is Ekamranatha, residing at the root of a mango tree. He is hence also referred to as mAmUlanAtha. Dikshitar refers to this in cintaya mAkanda mUla kandam. A panel depicting Shiva as Somaskanda (Shiva with Uma and Skanda) is below this mango tree and hence the second line of the song propitiates Somaskanda. The anupallavi states that Shiva’s feet provide empires, an indirect allusion to the Pallava Empire that flourished from here. An empire is also an earthly possession. In the charanam, there are allusions to the God of Love and the God of Death (Shiva excels Madana in beauty and quelled Yama) both important personages for humans. The last lines speak of the deity as Bhairavi prasanga (embraced by Parvati). This brings in the raga mudra and also refers to the purana here where Parvati worshipped Shiva in the form of a sand linga. To test her devotion, Shiva sent a flood through the river Kampa which threatened the linga. Parvati in her anxiety embraced it and Shiva was pleased. This song mentions no consort for there is no shrine for Her in the temple. All the Shiva temples of Kanchipuram have no shrine for Devi and the only Devi shrine is that of Kamakshi.

By : Dilpreet Singh, dilpreet111@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Procedure to Worship Shiva (or Ganesha, Lakshmi etc.)

Note: This is a simple standard ritual that can performed to undertake e pooja or worship of any Hindu God or Goddess. At the appropriate places kindly change the name of the concerned deity in the under-mentioned mantras. 

For example if you ding the Pooja of Lord Ganesha instead of Shiva, kindly change the name from 'Sri Shiva Maha Devaya' to 'Sri Ganesha' or 'Sri Lakshmi'...

Items required :

Abhisheka liquids : Water mixed with Gangajal, unboiled milk, Sugarcane juice and/or Coconut water. 
Punchamrit which is mix of unboiled milk , honey , sugar, ghee and curd.

Water mixed with Ganges water in a achamani pot with Kusha grass for sprinkling and a spoon
 

Dhoop , Incense sticks, Camphor, Ghee lamp
 

Sandal paste , Aromatic oil .
 

Rice grains
 

Offerings – Sweets, Clothes, Flowers, Fruits, Betel nut, Bael Patra, Paan , Coconut
 

Place Shiv Lingam (or statue/picture of Shiva, Ganesha etc..deity)... so that Yoni faces North and you are facing the West face of the Lingam/statue/picture and looking towards East. You need to sit on an mat (Aasan) of wool/ Kusha grass/blanket/white cloth. It is best to do ritual worship (Pooja) of Lord Shiva while wearing Rudraksha on your body as it is his favorite bead.

Sprinkle water over yourself and all items of Puja chanting the under-mentioned 'Cleansing Mantra'(Purifying Mantra). You can use this mantra to purify any item to be used for worship...

Purification Mantra:-
Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarva Vastan Gatopi Va
Yah Smaret Pundari Kaksham Sa Bahya Bhyantarah Shuchi


Translation:
May all things unholy become holy, may all lower tendencies depart, just as soon as we transcend may within and without be purified!

Then Chant the below mantra to get blessings of your Guru, Protection Angels & inflow of positive energy:-

"Om Gurubhyo Namaha
Om Ganeshaya Namaha
Om Kula Devatabhyo Namaha
Om Ishta Devatabhyo Namaha
Om Mata Pitribhyam Namaha"
 

Translation:
I bow to guru, I bow to Ganesha, I bow to the family deity, I bow to my personal deity, I bow to my parents

Place water on right hand with spoon of and sip after each of these 3 mantras
 to imbibe the power ^& blessings of Krishna...

"Om Keshavaya Namaha
Om Narayana Namaha
Om Madhavaya Namaha"

Place water on right hand and pour on ground to purify the earth.
"Om Govindaya Namaha"

Do three short rounds of pranayama breaths. 
"Om Pranavasya Parabrahma Rishihi Paramatma Devata
Daivi Gayatri Chandaha
Pranayamae Viniyogaha"


Bathe lingam with water and then all Abhisheka liquids one by one. The bathe Him with Punchamrit and again with water. All this while chant “Om Namah Shivaye”. Wipe Him and place Him on Pedestal.

Now chant Sadyojaat mantra :-

Om Sadyojaatam Prapadyaami Sadyojataajava Namo Namaha
Bhave Bhavenaati Bhave Bhavasvamaam Bhavodbhavay Namaha
Offer Sandal Paste making a Tripunda on His Western Face with Vamdev mantr
a

Om Vamdevaya Namah, Jyeshthaay Namah , Shreshthay Namah , Rudraay Namah , Kaalay Namah ,Kala Vikarannaay Namah, Bal Vikaranaay Namah, Balaay Namah Bala Pramathanaay Namah, Sarva Bhoot Damanaay Namah, Manomanaay Namah.
Offer dhoop and incense to Him with mantra below


"Om Aghorebhyo Ghorebhyo Ghor Ghor Tarebhayaha
Sarvebhya Sarva Sharvvebhyo Namaste Astu Rudra Roopebhyaha"
Offer flowers with mantra below
 
"Om Tatpurushaaya Vidmahe Mahadevaay Dheemahi
Tanno Rudraha Prachodayaat"


Chant Eeeshan mantra


Om Eeshaanah Sarvavidyaanam Eeshwar Sarvabhootaanaam
Brahmaadipati Brahmanaadhipati Brahma Shivome Astu Sadaa Shivom
(Invocation) Avahanam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha

(Seat) Asanam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha

(Cloth) Vastram Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Sandalwood or scent) Chandanam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Rice) Akshatan Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Flower) Pushpam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Dhoop) Dhupam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Ghee lamp) Deepam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Water drink) Achamaniyam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Fruit) Naivedyam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Water Drink) Achamaniyam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Betel nut - Paan) Tambulam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha
 

(Coconut) Shri Phalam Samarpayami Sri Shiva Maha Devaya Charana Kamalebhyo Namaha


Burn Camphor and offer to Him with this mantra:-
Karpura Shivam Karuna Vataram Samsara Saram Bhujagendraharam
Sada Vasantam Hridaya Ravinde Bhavam Bhavani Sahitam Namami
 
Chant Gayatri mantra 3 times

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha
Om Tat Savitur Varenyum Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat
 
Chant Surya mantra 3 times

Om Bhu Om Bhuvaha Om Swaha Om Maha Om Janaha Om Tapaha Om Satyam

Repeat and touch each after each mantra, right eye, left eye, forehead

Om Apo Jyothi
Raso Amtritam
Brahma Bhu Bhuvaha Swarom

Chant Mahamrityunjaya mantra 108 times with Rudraksha mala. 
Om Haum Joom Sah ,Om Bhur Bhuvaha Swaha
Om Triambakam Yajamahey,Sungandhim Pushti Vardanam
Urvar Ukamiva Bandhanan,Mrityor Muksheeya Mamritat
Om Swaha Bhuvaha Bhu Om Sah Joom Haum Om


Bow or supplicate, then chant this last prayer : 
Om Purnamada purnamidam purnath purnamudyachite
Purnasya purnamadaya purna mevaya shishyate
 
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti


Regards
Dilpreet Singh
dilpreet111@gmail.com