Abstract

The basic elements in Yoga are 1-Yamas (ethics) 2-Niyamas (guidelines) 3-Āsanas (postures) 4-Prāṇāyāma (breath) 5-Pratyāhāra (awareness) 6-Dhāraṇā (concentration) -Dhyāna (reflection) 8-Samādhi (meditation). A deeper comparison and analysis unveil all these characteristics are embedded in Bharatiya Shastriya Sangeet (BSS). Music revolves around sound and its expression (vocal or instrumental music) is a manifestation of emotions (rasas as in Indian parlance) which has the ethics of production of sruti madhur or pleasing melody of sounds, niyama /guidelines for expression of a melody which requires voice culture, through varied combinations of notes and so on which have been discussed in this article. In Indian music, the most important creation of the musicologists/musicians is rāga which is synonymous with classical music. Different types of expressions through a variety of forms with svara and tāla, ascent and descent prescribed for the particular rāga, path /chalan, guidelines like vādi, samvādi, anuvādi, vivādi, jātis, etc. are the elements for a unique structure. The technique to manifest requires awareness, concentration, breath control, creative analysis and reflection. The technicality requires aesthetics to breathe in and release nāda which is the most important aspect of Music considered the main centre of energy. This invigorates the soul for the apt deliverance of a rāga. In Yoga, all exercises may appear to be showcasing the art of exercising the limbs or different parts of the body but on critical analysis each action deepens the insight for reflection, to create a semblance of the mind and body invoking virtues like inner serenity and harmony, giving ānanda. That is why it is said योगश्चित्तवश्चृत्तश्चिरोधः१.२॥॥ प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥ ॥ समाश्चध-पादः ॥ i The emotions running haywire in the mind gets corrected while doing Yoga. Similarly in Indian classical Music the proper rendition creates positive vibes all around the performer and the audience, culminating to sādhanā /meditation in Music.