Ragas In India Music by Nandita Kumari

Classical music has ancient roots, and it primarily developed due to the reverence for arts, for both spiritual (moksha) and entertainment (kama) purposes in Hinduism. The Buddha discouraged music aimed at entertainment, but encouraged chanting of sacred hymns.[34] The various canonical Tipitaka texts of Buddhism, for example, state Dasha-shila or ten precepts for those following the Buddhist spiritual path. Among these is the precept recommending “abstain from dancing, singing, music and worldly spectacles”. Buddhism does not forbid music or dance to a Buddhist layperson, but its emphasis has been on chants, not on musical raga. Raga, along with performance arts such as dance and music, has been historically integral to Hinduism, with some Hindus believing that music is itself a spiritual pursuit and a means to moksha (liberation). Râgas, in the Hindu tradition, are believed to have a natural existence. Artists don’t invent them, they only discover them. Music appeals to human beings, according to Hinduism, because they are hidden harmonies of the ultimate creation. This book deals with the communication of identical phrases and single notes projecting various shades within a particular raga or in different ragas. The book is a must read for students, teachers and music lovers interested in Indian Classical Music in depth.