The Mother Nature and Indian Classical Music

What is that which is so peculiar in Indian Classical Music, which makes it unique? I feel its uniqueness lies primarily in following 3 specialities:
The scientific selection and composition of particular Swaras (Notes), which form the musical structures called the “Raga” and weaving these compositions into rhythmic disciplines called Tala;
The ability of these Ragas to mingle with the moods of the Mother Nature; and
Most importantly, the power of these Ragas to manifest the moods present in the Mother Nature at the particular time when they are supposed to be played or sung.

Let me take an example of a simple Raga, called Raga Yaman, which has 7 basic notes its ascent and descent.
Now, if you play these 7 notes in a fashion Sa-Re-Ga-Ma-Pa-Dha-Ni, they will just sound like 14 different notes. It’s the binding of 2 or more of these notes in a scientific sequence that makes the birth of Raga Yaman. What I mean by this is, if you tie these Swaras in a fashion like
à Ni-Re-Ga-Re- Ni-Re-Sa; or
à Ni-Re-Ga-Ma- Pa-MA-Ga- Re- Ni-Re-Ga-Re- Ni-Re-Sa, it produces some kind of a soothing effect. This typical sequence of Swaras in a particular Raga is called as “Pakad” (meaning Grip) of the Raga, which you can say is the soul of any Raga. This is what I meant by scientific selection and composition of Swaras.
The structures mentioned above are just 2 of the numerous ones which can be developed using the Yaman Swaras, which will continue to give the same soothing effect and this is something which calls for creativity.
You may well ask as to how you can enjoy this soothing effect. The answer is to do a very simple activity.
You would definitely agree with me in saying that in today’s mechanical and hectic world, it’s a very common thing that you return to home being tired and fatigued. This is the very good opportunity to test the Yaman effect. Just try this out.
After you get to home very tired and fatigued, just sit anywhere in your home, put on you discman or music system, dim or switch off the lights (although not a real must) and put on Yaman, may it be instrumental or vocal. If you don’t have specific CDs having Yaman, you may well listen to any of the following hindi film songs:
Ghar se nikal te hi, kucha door chalte hi…..
Jindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi voh barasaata ki raat….
Ehsaan tera hoga mujhapar….
Tum na jano isa jahan mein kho gaye…
The Marathi lovers can listen to:
Tocha chandrama nabhat…
Radhadhara madhu milinda jayjaya…
Naatha ha maza….
Devagharache dnyata kunala…
These are the songs which contain the typical Swara sequence of Yaman, which is obvious, as all these songs are based on Raga Yaman.
Believe me, if you listen in the manner narrated above with utmost concentration, you will literally feel someone beloved is really fondling your back.

Let us see how it manifests the moods of the nature.
Yaman is typically played or sung after the evening dust, which is supposed to be a calm and quiet time to be spent with our beloved ones. While listening to Yaman in evening sitting in your home, close your eyes and just try to imagine yourselves in an upcountry area, lying on the banks of a river or a lake, with reflections of stars and the moon being seen in the river or the lake water in front of you. You will feel that the quietness and the sanctity of the above environment being sprinkled on you through the Yaman swaras. This is what is I call as the manifestation of the moods present in the nature through Swaras, which makes you relaxed and happy.
It is quite possible that initially, all this would not make any sense to you and you may think all this rubbish and not making any sense. But the fact remains that, all these things need to be felt, rather than explained. Whatever it may be, one thing is sure, that once you develop practice of listening to these Swaras with utmost concentration, the feelings which I am trying to explain will start getting into your breath automatically. At least, I experience this daily.
The same sort of feeling can even be sensed through some other Ragas like Haunsadhwani, Shyam Kalyan, Bihag, Nand, Kamod and many more.
In my next blog, I will write about one Raga, which showers the mixture of many moods onto you while listening to it.
Till then, do write to me as to how did you feel about this blog, especially those, who have never tried listening to the Indian Classical Music.