The human body is a wonderful ensemble of a large number of interacting systems – those constituting its anatomy and conducting the physiological, biological and molecular functions at the gross physical level and those involved in the processing of the brain and the mind towards regulating the former and the multiple activities of life. The harmonious functioning of these components would be sufficient for the maintenance of routine life – like that of any other species
in its natural domain.
More important parts of this unique laboratory of life in the form of a human being are –– the mana (conscious and subconscious mind), buddhi (intellect), citta (unconscious mind), ahmksra (the sense of being) and the antahkaraña (super-conscious mind and the inner self) – in the sublime realms of mind. Those in the executive domain include –– the sat cakras, the twenty four upatyikas, the three granthis , the ida, pingala and susuma nadis , the panca kosas the kundalini and the sahastrara, the subliminal nucleus (hidden in the inner core of the upper brain) of linkage with the divine consciousness.
In their quest for absolute truth, the risis used to carry out all experiments and investigations in this ‘living laboratory’, which, as they found, contained the projection of the whole universe in itself. Rather than depending upon others, or using external means or consuming natural resources (to develop sophisticated devices/technologies….) and upsetting the ecological harmony, they preferred a truly self-reliant approach to develop and perform the spiritual experiments of the science of life on their own body and mind. They performed upasana, yoga, sadhana and tapascarya for this purpose. Their endeavours bestowed multiple boons of – the knowledge of the self, knowledge of the universe, realization of the absolute truth and, most importantly, the achievement of their noble goal of creating divine ambience in this mortal world.
The most remarkable result of their invaluable research was the decipheration that – the eternal energy of Sabda and Nada is the basic source of the origin and functioning of the miraculous living laboratory existing in a human being.
The manifestation of the power of Sabda in our vocal sound is called baikhari vañi; and that expressed via gestures and in the language of thoughts is called madhyama vañi. The ‘voices’ of the deeper cores of the mind and the soul are termed respectively as para vañi and pasyanti vañi.
The powers and effectiveness of these vañis grow exponentially from baikhari to pasyanti. The words spoken by someone would become absolute if his baikhari vañi is empowered by the pasyanti. Spiritual endeavors of Sabda Yoga and Vaka Siddhi include purification and training to effectuate this evolution of vañi. The japa of mantras are perfect only if uttered through such a refined voice.
As mentioned earlier, the creation (compilation) of mantras is based on a splendid combination of the science of syllables and vowels emanated from the realization of Sabda Brahm and the science of the rhythmic impact of specific patterns of phonemes and musical notes – the science of Nada Brahm. The effectiveness of the vacika japa of mantras is proportional to the spiritual refinement of the baikhari vañi. The consistent observance of truth, austerity, piety and selflessness in thoughts, deeds and conduct is essential for effective success in the practices of mantra-japa. A mantra recited in a spiritually refined voice is said to be perfect like the unfailing arrow of the Gañdiva – the divine bow of Arjuna.
Our body is also like a superb musical instrument gifted by Nature. In fact, its functional structure can be simulated with the viña and sitara. These instruments have several wires connected with the wooden components. Analogously, the brain, tongue, stomach etc together with the tactile skin, vocal cord, ears and the network of interconnected nerves constitute our body’s instrument. This musical body (termed Gatra Viña in the scriptures) is well equipped with the sensors for receiving and transmitting enormous varieties of sonic currents.
The swara (accent) of the musical notes is generated in the Gatra Viña of our body by vibrations in the specific cakras and energy plexus described earlier. The talented musicians produce varieties of melodious patterns and musical compositions from the instruments like the viña and sitara. The experts of Yoga Vidya too, by the dedicated sadhanas of Nada Brahm, ‘play’
(stimulate) the sat cakras and generate vibrations in the ‘fibers’ (latent linkages) of the inner body. This induces spiritual transmutation and arousal of supernatural powers (riddhi-siddhis) of physical as well as transcendental dimensions.
Perfection in listening and tuning the Nada of the living viña of our body helps understand and regulate the gross physical as well as the subtle functions of our life. This expertise could be attained rather easily by Nada Yoga as compared to other ascetic and enduring sadhana procedures of yoga. The sapt deva (seven Gods), sapta risi (the seven risis), saptloka (seven heavenly realms of existence), sapt sagara (seven ‘oceans’ of life), sapt meru (seven mountains of divinity), sapt sadhanas (seven levels of spirituality) –– existing in the subtle world of our body – are said to vibrate according to the divine sapt swaras (the octave of cosmic music of eternity) generated by the Nada Brahm.
A group of distinguished scientists in Toronto (Canada) has initiated innovative research on the ‘sounds’ within the human body. Their sound-proof laboratory is well equipped to perceive and make audible, the different sounds produced by the processes of respiration, heart beating, flows of liquids and gases in the digestive system…., etc. The analysis of the rhythmic interplay between these sounds and the physical state of the body has offered them significant information. Similar research in modern branches of audition and acoustics should also be carried out to scientifically analyse the psychological factors with respect to the gamut sounds inside the body.
Renowned physicist, Dr. Charles G. Van Ripher has thrown light on the subtler aspects of the internal sounds of the human body in his book entitled – ‘An Introduction to General American Phonetics’. In his views, the mysterious levels of consciousness could be grasped only by understanding the spectrum of sonic (audible as well as subliminal) vibrations of the living system. Prof. Ripher states that – as light, heat, gravity and magnetism affect the physical phenomena in Nature and the states of the living bodies in it, similar or even higher should be the impact of the sound energy because it ‘enfolds’ the optical and the thermal energies as well. The presence of some minimum level of sound, including that produced due to the continuum of periodic physiological functions, is as essential for maintaining bio-energy, as that of air, water and food.
From their physical appearance, the muscles appear as mere bundles of ‘threads’ made up of blood and flesh…. However, the sounds produced by their periodic contraction and stretching are wonderful. One can sense these sounds by meditating upon the intra-body functions – without any disturbance of any kind of external sound. Perfecting such meditations enables one perceive these sounds in the happy and healthy state of the mind and body as melodious tunes produced by the divine viña. This sound loses its order and becomes unclear in the negative states of tension, anger, sickness, etc.
Some of the sounds produced by various physiological and physio-chemical functions inside the body can be amplified and heard or sensed with the help of the modern instruments like the echocardiogram. With the advent of technology for perception of infra- and ultrasounds, some scientists have been able to record and analyse the above mentioned sounds produced by the muscles and other parts of the body. Celebrities like Dr. Joshua F. Jaffe of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has successfully recorded some of these sound waves – up to 1000 hertz frequencies – with the help of an
electro-mechanical stethoscope. His recordings include the orderly echoes (sounding like “Lap-Dap – Lap-Dap” ….) of the heart beats and the grumbling sound produced in the lungs.
Prof. G. I. Taylor’s auto-correlation studies carried out at the Cambridge University have provided in-depth quantitative analysis of the waveforms of the signals recorded during the controlled experiments on intra-body sounds. Using the computational methods of Fast Fourier Transforms, Prof. James W. Cooley of the Princeton University has successfully recorded the digital waveforms of the rhythmic sound produced due to the periodic contraction and stretching of muscles.
The next step of the front-line research in related biomedical sciences would focus on the prognostic and diagnostic studies using the parametric analysis of the waveforms of the sounds of different kinds of physiological tremors under the normal and the diseased conditions of the body.
Experiments on other creatures have also shown major role of their biological sounds in governing their vital functions and vice-versa. Dr. Nelson of the Zoology department, California University has investigated that – if a shark is in a state of danger, her ‘shout’ for help is sent to her partners via the signals of her muscles’ sound; the friends at the other end also communicate
via similar signals. Dr. M. A. Winsey of Britain obtained analogous results when he experimented on the eggs of Japanese Quails. He found that the sound waves transmitted from an egg are heard by its mother about four days before the birth of the offspring. He also observed that if an embryo of this quail is kept in a transparent plastic bag near its egg, in which, an offspring is struggling hard to come out …., then, the orderly sound produced inside the embryo would send ‘energy signals’ to help the offspring break the shell of its egg with greater ease…… An experimental Zoologist, Dr. Goldpink, concludes that – such phenomena are the ‘demonstration’ of the fact that the conscious energy in a living body is indeed a part of an omnipresent (supreme) force.
In his dissertation entitled ‘Phisicomathice de L’humane’ an Italian scientist, Dr. Francisco M.
Grimaldy has thrown light on some yet unknown (hence ‘mysterious’!) features of the music of the body’s viña. He considers the specific pattern of the body-sounds of a person to be correlated with his psychology and sentiments. His emphasis on the emotional and sentimental aspects brings his theory closer to the philosophy of our ancient scholars. Any kind of sophisticated experiment in our body can be performed only if this wonderful laboratory is cleaned and upgraded by physical fitness and refinement of our thoughts, sentiments and deeds.
All the disciplined practices of yoga, ranging from asana–prañayama and dhyana–dharaña to the higher levels of sadhanas, are aimed at activating the linkage between the individual and the supreme consciousness… The physiological tremors play a key role in increasing the levels of vital energy during the elementary exercises of spiritual yoga. The japa of mantras also makes use of these sound waves in order to penetrate the ‘otherwise unused’ latent core of consciousness (in the hidden fold of the human brain) towards creating a communication link with the cosmic layers of Sabda.
The disciplines of self-restrain, chastity and specific prañayamas help regulating the order of the physiological tremors in total harmony with the bio-rhythm of Nature. This also bestows the opportunity of enlightened development of personality. The internal power of our ears could be stimulated by elementary practices of Nada Yoga so that they could sense (‘perceive’) the otherwise subtle sounds inside the body. Consistency in meditation upon the internal sounds of the body accompanied by thorough practices of introvert analysis inspired by upasana and swadhyaya eventually leads to activation and illumination of the subtle and astral bodies too. Arousal of inner strength and virtuous talents together with intellectual radiance are immediate consequences of accomplishing these sadhanas. Further evolution of the individual consciousness by the Nada Yoga sadhanas effectuates the manifestation of supernormal faculties.
Source: Eternity of Sound and the Science of Mantra
