The Hindu : Music as devotional aid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 13, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Music as devotional aid

CHENNAI Dec.13 .The ideal of every human being, be it the religious scholar, the man of science or the layperson is to be a good person. This is the basic premise on which a devotee can build his spiritual foundation to ultimately realise God. There is no quick fix method to achieve this goal. Limited by his responsibilities and duties to family and society at large, one may justifiably feel nonplussed with regard to the correct path to tread.

The wise concede that it is difficult to switch over to spiritual life overnight. However devotion to God can run concurrently with worldly life, which is punctuated by minor vices and struggles. Once a person embarks on this journey, sinful thoughts, words and deeds diminish progressively, and as Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavad Gita, devotion to God consumes all evil and purifies even the lowliest of the low. True values will gain ascendance over baser instincts in proportion to one's spiritual development.

In his lecture, Sri Ma. Ki. Ramanan said the lives of saints and mystics were a source of inspiration. The paths of devotion and knowledge are prescribed means to liberation. One can also realise God by adopting devotional music as an aid. Devotional music advocates soulful singing, whereby body, mind and soul attain union.

Jnanadeva has said that when devotees sing in praise of God there is no need for penance. Arunagirinathar was one of the proponents of this path and his work is steeped in devotional fervour and stresses the need to stay tuned constantly to God. Saint Thyagaraja best exemplified that music can be a tool to reach God. There are recorded instances where music has wrought miracles. Thirugnanasambandar, who was gifted a pair of golden cymbals by God, is credited with having brought back to life Poompavai; Appar's devotion worked as an antidote to snake venom, while Sundarar's hymn saved a child from the jaws of a crocodile and breathed new life into her. Manikkavasagar's verses helped a hearing disabled person to break out into song.

The guidelines for spiritual life include developing immunity to worldly pleasures, embracing a charitable way of life in both word and in deed, and respecting one's mentor at all times. Arunagirinathar says when a devotee approaches God through music He blesses the seeker with all that is required for one's happiness in this world and the next.

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