Music as Yoga

by Swami Sivananda

Sankirtan Samrat Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj is a Kevala-Adwaita Vedantin. He recognizes Music as Yoga, as an approach to the Absolute. He has used it as a life-transforming vehicle of his divine thoughts and composed many songs, pregnant and vibrant with his Upadesha.

Anything Indian is spiritual; and music is specially so. Our music is intended to enable the mind melt in the melody; and since the Swaras have their own vibratory chords in the inner psychic centers-Chakras in the Sushumna, this Mano-laya at once releases the latent spiritual power and leads to blissful Samadhi. So we have an illustrious galaxy of saints as the foremost artists: Thyagaraja, Dikshitar, Shyama Sastrigal, Purandaradasa, Mira Bai, etc.

It is hoped that this volume would enable the public and musicians to view music in the proper light as an Anga of Sankirtana Yoga, as an aid to the purification of the heart and as a Sadhana that leads to Bhava-Samadhi, and while keeping it unpolluted by vulgarity and vocal gymnastics, will endeavour to apply themselves to music with devotion and faith.

About the Author:

Sri Swami Sivananda , born on the 8th September, 1887, in the illustrious family of Sage Appayya Dikshita and several other renowned saints and savants, Sri swami Sivananda had a natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice of Vedanta.

He was an inborn eagerness to serve all and an innate feeling of unity with all mankind. He is the author of over 300 volumes and has disciples all over the world, belonging to all nationalities, religions and creeds. To read his works is to drink at the Fountain of Wisdom Supreme. On 14th July, 163 he entered Mahasamadhi.