Mantras to Music: Acoustics in Hinduism

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Mantras to Music: Acoustics in Hinduism

M.G. Prasad - mprasad (AT) stevens (DOT) edu Mech. Engrg. Dept.Stevens Inst. of

Tech.Hoboken, N.J. 07030Popular version of paper 4aMU4Presented Thursday

morning, May 27, 2004 147th ASA Meeting, New York, NY Introduction: Acoustics

has played important roles in all cultures and religions of the world. This is

natural as acoustics deals with sound, one of the senses of perception. In

Hinduism, acoustics is of major importance in various aspects of life, namely

spirituality, religion, culture, science, art, etc. In this paper four aspects

of acoustics in Hinduism are briefly described with video samples. They are: 1)

Chanting of mantras from the Vedas, 2) Sounds from conch-shells, 3) Music

(percussion instrument) and 4) Musical tones from pillars.

Vedas, the revealed literature of Hinduism, is an infinitely large collection of

mantras (chants). These mantras describe the various facets of knowledge dealing

with life and cosmos. It is through precise oral tradition from antiquity to

present times that these mantras are taught by teachers (Vedic pundits) to

disciples. This transfer of knowledge through recitation requires a pure mind

with precision in intonation and pronunciation for both teacher and disciples.

Chanting of Veda Mantras:

The language of Veda mantras is called Chandas and is quite similar to current

Sanskrit language with some differences in grammar. Sounds of the Veda mantras

carry the listeners to spiritual experiences. The acoustical characteristics,

in addition to the clear phonetic articulation of chants, have deep impact on

the listeners. It is shown by this author that the intrinsic pitch difference

effects can be overridden in Vedic chanting. The video clip attached below is

from a Vedic school "Sri Sarvaraya Veda Pathasala" in Kapileswaram, Andhra

Pradesh, India. In the segment shown, both teachers and disciples are chanting

in a practice session. The sitting arrangement is in two rows to facilitate

alternate chanting.

[-Video clip of Chants-]

Sounds of Conch-shells and Bells:

The chants from Vedas are extensively used in worship and sacrament rituals at

homes and temples. In Hindu temples, sounds from conch-shells, bells and

musical instruments are used along with worship rituals. It is interesting to

note that sound from a conch-shell has a sharp tonal quality that can be

recognized while listening. It has a very high Q-factor. The video clip below

shows the ending of a ritual in which a lamp is waved as an offering to the

deity and then brought to devotees to receive the light of God. The

conch-shells are blown and bells are rung in addition to the chanting by

priests during the waving of a lamp. This video clip is from the Hindu Temple

and Cultural Society in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

[-Conch-shell Video-]

Music and Hinduism:

In addition to communication and entertainment, the Vedic literature emphasizes

that speech and music have a spiritual role. Speech connects the abstract

thoughts and physical actions. The phonetics and grammar of Sanskrit language

bring out the spiritual effects through prayers, chants, etc. The sacred role

of speech is emphasized in the unison of thought-speech-action as a spiritual

goal.

The classical music according to Hinduism has divine origin and is a medium

primarily for spiritual experiences. There are two types of classical music of

India namely Carnatic and Hindustani. Music is also a driving force for dance.

Music transforms the listeners. In the words of yogi-seer Sriranga Sadguru,

"Music should become the bridge that takes the listeners from sensual level to

spiritual level of Atman". The classical vocal and instrumental music of Hindu

culture synthesize both art and science of acoustics. In particular the sounds

from the percussion instruments Mridangam and Tabla are melodious to hear in

addition to their rhythms. The Nobel laureate Sir C.V. Raman has shown (in

1920) that the melody in Tabla and Mridangam is due to their special design in

achieving harmonic relationship in first five natural frequencies. The video

clip attached below is a sample of melodious rhythm played by the maestro Zakir

Hussain.

[-Video clip of Tabla-]

Musical Pillars of Hindu Temples :

Acoustics plays a very important role in Vedic metaphysics. An evolutionary

order is given for the five elements of nature. The Vedic evolutionary order is

from the subtle to gross i.e. space, air, fire, water and earth. This order of

elements is matched with senses of perception as shown in the table below.

Element

Senses of Perception

Space

Sound (hear)

Air

Touch and Sound

Fire

See, Touch and Sound

Water

Taste, See, Touch and Sound

Earth

Smell, Taste, See, Touch and Sound

The Vedic metaphysics emphasizes that sound is the only descriptor of space but

also can be used in sensing other four elements. Hence acoustics has received

primary importance in Vedic Hinduism. In ancient India, the Hindu temples

played important roles in all aspects of life such as for worship, a space for

art performance, and for education. The video clip attached below shows a

musical performance from granite pillars. This special hall, called Purandhara

Mantapa, was built in the 16th century during the time of Vijayanagara Empire

in Hampe, Karnataka, India.

[-Pillars-]

Concluding Remarks:

Thus, it is seen that acoustics plays a major role in Vedic Hinduism from

Mantras to Music. Acoustics for Hindu sages was not only a tool of science, but

also a spiritual medium to understand life in all its aspects. The above video

samples are provided as an experience of the various roles of sound and its

environments. A visit to a traditional Hindu temple during rituals and an

Indian music or dance concert will provide more in-depth experience of

acoustics in Hinduism.

Acknowledgements: The author thanks Mr. Chetan Bhatt for his help in preparation

of this paper. Also thanks are due to Mr. Ben Stein and Acoustical Society of

America for their interest and

support.http://www.acoustics.org/press/147th/Prasad.htmFor Ganesh

Bhaktas:/

 

 

[Guest guest]

theres nothing as HINDUISM honey please understand ! am in no ways

as learned as you but what exists in reality by my opinion is just

HUMANITY

regards

jai ambey mahakali shree kaal bhairavya namah,

rajatyyyyyy dumb boy

 

, Simone <syzenith> wrote:

> Mantras to Music: Acoustics in Hinduism

> M.G. Prasad - mprasad@s...

> Mech. Engrg. Dept.

> Stevens Inst. of Tech.

> Hoboken, N.J. 07030

>

> Popular version of paper 4aMU4

> Presented Thursday morning, May 27, 2004

> 147th ASA Meeting, New York, NY

> Introduction:

> Acoustics has played important roles in all cultures and religions

of the world. This is natural as acoustics deals with sound, one of

the senses of perception. In Hinduism, acoustics is of major

importance in various aspects of life, namely spirituality, religion,

culture, science, art, etc. In this paper four aspects of acoustics

in Hinduism are briefly described with video samples. They are: 1)

Chanting of mantras from the Vedas, 2) Sounds from conch-shells, 3)

Music (percussion instrument) and 4) Musical tones from pillars.

>

> Vedas, the revealed literature of Hinduism, is an infinitely large

collection of mantras (chants). These mantras describe the various

facets of knowledge dealing with life and cosmos. It is through

precise oral tradition from antiquity to present times that these

mantras are taught by teachers (Vedic pundits) to disciples. This

transfer of knowledge through recitation requires a pure mind with

precision in intonation and pronunciation for both teacher and

disciples.

>

> Chanting of Veda Mantras:

>

> The language of Veda mantras is called Chandas and is quite similar

to current Sanskrit language with some differences in grammar. Sounds

of the Veda mantras carry the listeners to spiritual experiences. The

acoustical characteristics, in addition to the clear phonetic

articulation of chants, have deep impact on the listeners. It is

shown by this author that the intrinsic pitch difference effects can

be overridden in Vedic chanting. The video clip attached below is

from a Vedic school "Sri Sarvaraya Veda Pathasala" in Kapileswaram,

Andhra Pradesh, India. In the segment shown, both teachers and

disciples are chanting in a practice session. The sitting arrangement

is in two rows to facilitate alternate chanting.

>

> [-Video clip of Chants-]

>

>

> Sounds of Conch-shells and Bells:

>

> The chants from Vedas are extensively used in worship and sacrament

rituals at homes and temples. In Hindu temples, sounds from conch-

shells, bells and musical instruments are used along with worship

rituals. It is interesting to note that sound from a conch-shell has

a sharp tonal quality that can be recognized while listening. It has

a very high Q-factor. The video clip below shows the ending of a

ritual in which a lamp is waved as an offering to the deity and then

brought to devotees to receive the light of God. The conch-shells are

blown and bells are rung in addition to the chanting by priests

during the waving of a lamp. This video clip is from the Hindu Temple

and Cultural Society in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

>

> [-Conch-shell Video-]

>

>

>

> Music and Hinduism:

>

> In addition to communication and entertainment, the Vedic

literature emphasizes that speech and music have a spiritual role.

Speech connects the abstract thoughts and physical actions. The

phonetics and grammar of Sanskrit language bring out the spiritual

effects through prayers, chants, etc. The sacred role of speech is

emphasized in the unison of thought-speech-action as a spiritual

goal.

>

> The classical music according to Hinduism has divine origin and is

a medium primarily for spiritual experiences. There are two types of

classical music of India namely Carnatic and Hindustani. Music is

also a driving force for dance. Music transforms the listeners. In

the words of yogi-seer Sriranga Sadguru, "Music should become the

bridge that takes the listeners from sensual level to spiritual level

of Atman". The classical vocal and instrumental music of Hindu

culture synthesize both art and science of acoustics. In particular

the sounds from the percussion instruments Mridangam and Tabla are

melodious to hear in addition to their rhythms. The Nobel laureate

Sir C.V. Raman has shown (in 1920) that the melody in Tabla and

Mridangam is due to their special design in achieving harmonic

relationship in first five natural frequencies. The video clip

attached below is a sample of melodious rhythm played by the maestro

Zakir Hussain.

>

> [-Video clip of Tabla-]

>

>

> Musical Pillars of Hindu Temples :

>

> Acoustics plays a very important role in Vedic metaphysics. An

evolutionary order is given for the five elements of nature. The

Vedic evolutionary order is from the subtle to gross i.e. space, air,

fire, water and earth. This order of elements is matched with senses

of perception as shown in the table below.

> ElementSenses of PerceptionSpaceSound (hear)AirTouch and

SoundFireSee, Touch and SoundWaterTaste, See, Touch and

SoundEarthSmell, Taste, See, Touch and Sound

> The Vedic metaphysics emphasizes that sound is the only descriptor

of space but also can be used in sensing other four elements. Hence

acoustics has received primary importance in Vedic Hinduism. In

ancient India, the Hindu temples played important roles in all

aspects of life such as for worship, a space for art performance, and

for education. The video clip attached below shows a musical

performance from granite pillars. This special hall, called

Purandhara Mantapa, was built in the 16th century during the time of

Vijayanagara Empire in Hampe, Karnataka, India.

>

> [-Pillars-]

>

>

> Concluding Remarks:

>

> Thus, it is seen that acoustics plays a major role in Vedic

Hinduism from Mantras to Music. Acoustics for Hindu sages was not

only a tool of science, but also a spiritual medium to understand

life in all its aspects. The above video samples are provided as an

experience of the various roles of sound and its environments. A

visit to a traditional Hindu temple during rituals and an Indian

music or dance concert will provide more in-depth experience of

acoustics in Hinduism.

>

> Acknowledgements:

> The author thanks Mr. Chetan Bhatt for his help in preparation of

this paper. Also thanks are due to Mr. Ben Stein and Acoustical

Society of America for their interest and support.

> http://www.acoustics.org/press/147th/Prasad.htm

>

>

>

> For Ganesh Bhaktas:

> /

>

>

>

>