|
 
 |
| BOOK REVIEW |
|
| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 1 | Page : 93-94 |
|
An introduction to Indian music therapy
Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research (CYTER), Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pillayarkuppam, Puducherry, India
| Date of Submission | 25-Jan-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 25-Jan-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 26-Apr-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
Director and Professor Yoga Therapy, Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research (CYTER), Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pillayarkuppam, Puducherry, India.
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ijoyppp.ijoyppp_14_22
How to cite this article:
Bhavanani AB. An introduction to Indian music therapy. J Appl Conscious Stud 2022;10:93-4 |
Author : Dr. Karuna Nagarajan
Year : 2021
Publisher : Authorvine Publishers, New Delhi
Pages : 162
ISBN : 978-81-947425-4-8
Dr. Karuna Nagarajan is an acclaimed academician who has brought together the wisdom of Yoga and Indian classical music in her work over the past few decades. She is trained in both the South Indian and North Indian musical traditions and her scientific explorations in the field of Mind-Body medicine are well appreciated internationally.
Dr. Karuna's book, “An introduction to Indian Music Therapy” takes the reader on a journey that is melodious, yet tough on one's thinking cells. Every one of your brain cells needs to be functional to imbibe the essence of her concise work (162 pages) that could have been expanded into a couple of thousands with the elaboration of the intricate content.
As a medical doctor, yoga therapist, researcher, and musician, I found it to be an excellent work of great value. One that wakes up every aspect of your consciousness, as you delve deep into the vast ocean of Indian music and its therapeutic applications.
The first chapter details the origins of music and brings to life the concepts of Nada, Sruti and Svara.
In the second chapter, she captures our attention through the exposition of Raga, Rala, and Thata. This lays a foundation to understand the basic nuances of Indian music that are truly unique.
The importance of Rasa, that experiential essence is elucidated in Chapter III. The time theories and the emphasis of the Jiva swara are well brought out and these are vital for understanding the core modalities of Indian music as a therapeutic modality.
The role of the mind, its interconnectivity with the body and the role of emotions in the causation of diseases and the healing that can occur when the balance is attained are brought out in Chapter IV.
The therapeutic aspects of Indian music and the historical significance are dealt with in the fifth chapter whereas Chapter VI explores the metaphysical cause of illnesses and the potential role of music in enhancing the intrinsic healing response.
The seventh chapter brings in the aspects of Ayurveda, India's contribution to healthcare and she details how the illnesses and their management are to be understood through a paradigm based on the doshas. This is a very important contribution as it links all the traditional healing systems into the Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine model as advocated by the World Health Organization.
Dr. Karuna is to be commended for her excellent efforts and I am sure that this book will serve as a guidebook for institutions offering courses in Music Therapy. This will also enlighten music therapists around the world in updating their understanding of music therapy in the cultural context of Indian civilization.
|
Search Pubmed for