A Note on Carnatic Music and the developments it has seen over the years
A Note on Carnatic Music and the developments it has seen over the years It is said that music is the only way to run away without leaving home. India is the land of various genres of music, owing to its diverse culture and ethnicity. One of the most incredible music genres is Carnatic music. It is also known as Karnataka Samgita or Karnataka Sangitam. It primarily traces its roots from the south part of India including the modern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. It also has historical proximity to Sri Lankan music. Carnatic music is considered as one of two main subgenres of Indian classical music that is said to have originated from ancient Hindu traditions. The main focus of Carnatic music is on vocal music. Some are accompanied by musical instruments. Carnatic music is expected to be presented in gayaki (singing style). The beauty of Carnatic music is unparallel. It is used performed by a small ensemble of mellifluous musicians, with each member having to play a pre-determined part. The group consists of a principal performer, which is mostly the vocalist, punctuated by a melodic accompaniment, a rhythm accompaniment, and a special musical instrument called tambura (tanpura), which monitors the overall performance. Carnatic music is most pervasive in the city of Chennai (the capital of Tamil Nadu). A number of music concerts of Carnatic music are held across the globe and are loved by millions. Characteristics of Carnatic Music Carnatic music is usually performed in small groups, usually led by a vocalist who gets support from a string instrument (in most cases tanpura or veena). The rhythm of the music comes from a specialised hand drum, in the form of mridangam and ghatam clay pot, which added an eccentric note to the music. A tanpura effuses a background drone, which monitors the entire flow of the music. Carnatic music is primarily concerned with song compositions. Also, the musicians have to gain substantial knowledge about melody and vocabulary, so as to perform the same with poise finesse. Carnatic music is known for its depiction of divinity and devotion. Eloquence and pronunciations of lyrics play a pivotal role in this genre of music. Even the instrumentalists tend to study the lyrical meaning of songs they play. There are a number of factors that creates a synergy of melody, which is refreshing to the ears. It need not necessarily make sense to you. You just need to be open-minded and non-judgemental about the sounds you hear. Carnatic music also has the two main pillars of Hindustani Music, which are the raga, the modes or melodic formula and tala, the rhythmic cycle. Elements of Carnatic MusicSruti Sruti is the path in which music transcends. It can be referred to as the close cousin of tone, of Western Music. It helps to navigate the sense of graded pitches in an octave. Though there are a plethora of sounds falling in a scale of raga in Carnatic Music, the number that has been differentiated by auditory perception is twelve. On a superficial level, Sruti is an expression in the listener’s mind. Swara Swara is nothing but a single note musical sound that explains a relatively lower or higher position of a note, rather than a defined frequency. Swara consists of seven notes in Carnatic music, namely “sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, da, ni”. These are essentially the shorter versions of shadja, rishabha, gandhara, madhyama, panchama, dhaivata and nishada. There usually exists only one variant of each note on a scale of raga. Raga Raga tends to harness the melody of Carnatic music, drawing a close resemblance with the concept of mode in Western Music. It is a pathway of the rules of movement of the notes, either ascending (aarohonam) or descending (avarohanam). In this effect, close observation of the obligatory musical events must be made, either absolutely or in a specific sequence. In Carnatic music, the entire raga is classified into melakarta , which gathers them according to the notes they have. There exists seventy-two melakarta ragas, thirty-six of whose madhyama is shuddha. Tala Tala is the time cycle or beats cycle of a particular tune, that is created for a particular composition. It is essentially the process of the grouping of beats. The tala is required to be uniformly maintained throughout the song, so as to uphold the exact melody of the tune. They are mostly set at equal intervals throughout the song with a defined number of beats. Singers keep track of the talas by moving their hands in a particular pattern and using their fingers simultaneously. Tala has three basic parts, namely laghu, dhrtam and anudhrtam. Tala is of utmost importance in Carnatic Music as it helps to set the genre apart from Hindustani Classical. Origin Carnatic music is known to trace its roots to the prehistoric times. Musical instruments constituted an important and favourite subject among painters and authors of ancient times. They were viewed as the basis of creative elaboration and self-expression. Carnatic music loosely translates to “traditional” or “codified music”. In Carnatic music, the usage of many South Indian languages, such as Tamil, Telegu, Kannada and Malayalam have been witnessed. Hence Carnatic music encompasses the entire South Indian tradition and cultural heritage in a musically intricate manner, which is definitely something to be proud of. Conclusion Carnatic music has never been rigid with the ethos of its traditions of music. It is constantly evolving so as to enhance its global reach. With various music festivals featuring Carnatic music performances held across the world, this genre has definitely garnered notable appreciation and applause from audiences across the globe. The generation of metal and rock music is definitely being intrigued by the richness and complexity of this genre of Carnatic music, which is definitely making their heads turn. Carnatic music is being able to foster a modern outlook in the field of art and music, while preserving the past glories. It is definitely music to
A note on Common healthcare: Derived from the Vedas
Introduction The Vedas are the oldest literary record of Indo- Aryan civilization. They are the original scriptures of Hindu teachings containing information regarding all the spheres of life. The word Veda is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Vid’ which means to know. Veda is, therefore, the storehouse of knowledge. As per Dr. Krishna Lal, supreme knowledge is present in Vedas. It is the source of Indian mathematics, astrology, science, politics, music, art, and medicines. This knowledge of Vedas is very important to attain spiritual knowledge, remove darkness and negativity from the world, end all the disputes of humankind and lead a healthy and happy life. The Vedas have been classified as Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda has an up Veda if its own called Ayurveda which dealt with the use of plants in making medicines. They used the plants for curing different diseases. They also knew the autonomy of the animals. The Atharva Veda consists of principles of healing on which Ayurveda is based. The roots of modern medicines are derived from the Vedas. Ayurveda is an ancient system of healing which is being used for 5000 years. It believes in maintaining a balance between the mind, body and soul. A healthy spirit lives in a healthy body. It is therefore very important that our body is free from any diseases. In ancient times, Ayurveda was the solution to all such ailments and problems which is still popular in the Indian culture The reports by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing suggest that more than 90 percent of Indians use some form of Ayurvedic medicine and it is now gaining popularity in the western world as well. Today’s advancement in the medical sciences and the healthcare system have all been taken from the Vedas. One of the other techniques is the modern version of Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, the body is made of three Doshas, namely- Vata, pitta, and Kapha. A state of equilibrium must be maintained between them, which signifies a healthy life and a state of disequilibrium will mean disease. Each Dosha is represented by the five elements of nature- fire, earth, air, water, and space. These doshas inherent the qualities of these elements. For the body to be healthy, the mind must be peaceful and stable. Ayurveda helps in healing the mind and keeping the diseases away from the body. The physicians of Ayurveda realized that health is a very important part of life. So, they started learning about the process of healing, prevention, surgery through spiritual revelations which were later recorded in the Vedas. Ayurveda uses natural things like herbs, plants, colors, gems, aromas, mantras, yoga, meditation, surgery, and lifestyle. There are two main schools of thought in Ayurveda- Atreya (school of physicians) and Dhanvantari (school of surgeons). In the field of surgery, Sushruta, a student of Dhanvantari, contributed significantly. Such complicated surgeries like cataracts, fractures, kidney and bladder stone removal, brain surgery, plastic surgery of nose etc. were mentioned in the Vedas. Knowledge of the instruments used in operation is also described in the Sushruta Samhita, which is even brought to use today. The Sushruta Samhita contains information regarding different types of diseases, their causes, and treatments. It also mentions the importance of cleanliness and sterilization of the instruments after use. He has also told about how to numb the individual during surgery which is known as anesthesia nowadays. The Shataphta Brahma describes the functioning of the heart. It explains the importance of the heart in the body and how the heart functions. It explains how the heart helps in circulating blood to all parts of the body. It tells how blood is the lifeline of the body and is always replenished and on the move. The information regarding arteries and veins can also be found in the Atharva Veda. It also has prayers and mantras for curing different diseases. The chakra Samhita contains 120 chapters on eight topics which include- surgery, eye and head treatment, therapeutics, toxicology, pediatrics, pharmacology, and medicine preparation, mental diseases, and treatment of reproductive systems. It also mentions the effect of diet and yoga on the mind and body. It also emphasizes the importance of herbs and plants in making medicines. Nature has everything around us to provide us with relief from our ailments. The Vedas also include the magical cures to the diseases and mantras and chanting’s for the destruction of the demons that cause infections. There are a plethora of herbs and medicines available for the treatment of diseases like fever, diarrhea, pneumonia, skin diseases, tumors, etc. Ayurveda is the Vedic system of medicines. It has gained much popularity in the west in recent years. All the information described in the Vedas is still valuable after three decades. Ayurveda uses a mix of religious practices with medicines that involve mantras and chants, combined with administered drugs and medicines. It is the concept of taking care of the patients and their natural environment. Conclusion Ayurveda has been in practice and uses in different parts of India since ancient times. This system of healing is still used by the people of India and is becoming popular in the west as an alternative to allopathy. There are many healing Centres available where different diseases are cured by communicating with nature. They help relax the mind and body and maintain a balance between the two. Bladder stone removal, plastic surgery have all been successful in India. The results have been satisfactory. All these have been derived directly or indirectly from an ancient sources. It clearly shows the contribution of Vedas in the healthcare sector.
Meditation in Ayurveda: An understanding of the beginners
Introduction “Meditation is being in tune with our inner universe”. Meditation in Ayurveda gives more insight to online casino players who start meditation. Meditation is an act of becoming aware of our thoughts, a great activity after earning players at Grosvenor casino at home. It helps to relax the mind before work, control negative thoughts, relieve tension, which helps online casino players. Meditation is the discovery of one’s inner self. It is the act of becoming aware of our thoughts and emotions and find out ways to move away from them without being stuck. It is the union of mind, body and soul. It helps in relaxing the mind and control the negative thoughts that surround you. It is like healing yourself to experience serenity and tranquillity. The history of meditation ways back to the ancient era where mediation was one of the most powerful tools suggested by the Ayurvedic physicians for maintaining a balance between mind and body. Ayurvedic Meditation involves the use of Ayurvedic principles to help in relaxing the mind to create a balance between brain and body. Ayurveda has been in practice since 5000 years ago from the time of our sages. It is still prevalent as one of the most popular and powerful for the health of the mind and body. Ayurveda is a science of life. Ayur means ‘Life’ and Veda means ‘Science’. It helps people in realising their worth and staying cheerful and calm in life. Ayurveda has been used to cure illness and diseases as well. Many Ayurvedic medicines have been made by the physicians in the old days to cure illness. It is popular even today, and people make use of it. But the principle of Ayurveda is that illness can be treated by creating awareness among yourself, maintaining a balance and controlling your mind. Meditation can achieve this. Through Meditation, the mind can be freed from all kinds of ill thoughts, and mind can be refreshed. This whole process will help in balancing the body and decrease your stress levels and increase your circulation of blood. Meditation is one of the practices being prescribed by Ayurvedic physicians to provide peace and calmness to the mind. Making Meditation a part of your lifestyle will help keep you fit and healthy. It should be practised as a habit and will keep you away from various diseases and illnesses. Meditation has a plethora of benefits for your health. It helps in lowering the blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, relieves tension and pain and increases the energy levels. It boosts concentration, develops creativity, maintains stress levels, provide peace to the mind and leads to a happy and contented life. It helps in the overall well-being of the individual. Ayurveda since ancient times has helped in maintaining an equilibrium between mind and body. Therefore, following the principles of Ayurveda along with Meditation, one can avoid diseases and feel the presence of the almighty and spiritually connect with God. One of the asanas named Vipassana has been one of the oldest techniques of Meditation in Ayurveda. Vipassana means to believe in real and not the virtual world. It was practised and taught to people around 2400 years ago to cure all kinds of diseases. Transcendental Meditation is also being practised and recommended by Maharishi Ayurveda to reduce stress levels among people and achieve a state of consciousness. Meditation also depends on the state of our mind. There are different types of meditations, according to the mind-body type or doshas. As per Ayurveda, there are three kinds of doshas that exists- Kapha, Vata and pitta. Vata is the dosh related to air, Kapha is the Dosha of earth and pitta is related to fire. All these doshas are connected with the elements. It is therefore very important to know the appropriate meditation technique to get rid of these doshas. Let’s find out what these Doshas are and then work out the meditation techniques best suited for your ‘prakruti’ or mental state. Vata is an air element with good innovative and imaginative skills. Vatas have difficulty in finding internal peace as there is a lot of energy surrounding them. They are easily distracted and becomes difficult to meditate. Pitta is a fire element and is super active, productive and organised. It is therefore very difficult for them to sit in Meditation for long. They are always doing something or the other and utilise their free time to plan their next move and action. Kapha is an earth element. They are serene, grounded and giving. They cannot meditate for a long time as they will fall asleep. They need Meditation that is lively and interactive to kill their boredom. After a basic understanding of the three types of doshas, we are sure you would be able to relate with one of these as your state of mind most of the times. Therefore, it is required that certain meditation tips and techniques suitable for your Dosha be practised and the state of mind can be brought to peace and balance. Vata- For the Vata minds, the best way to stay focused is by chanting mantras or saying something positive to oneself always. Staying positive and close to God can help in meditating in a better way. Pitta- being productive, pitta minds feel that Meditation is a waste of time but owing to the benefits it has, it is not a bad option to meditate for a few minutes daily. Start by trying with the basic pranayama and kapalbhati. This will help in boosting concentration and staying focused. Kapha- Kaphas need liveliness and entertainment in their lives. So, practising Mudras that involve hand gestures, moving Meditation like walking and dancing can be a good option for the Kapha minds. This will help retain their energy and stay active and more focused while meditating. Apart from this, we have some beginner’s hacks for Meditation to be more effective and focused. It is not always possible to go outside and take
A note on ancient Surgical practices in Ayurveda
Introduction of Ancient Surgical Practices Ayurveda is an ancient system of healing that dates back 5000 years. Ayurveda is known as the science of life. It is aimed at maintaining a balance between the mind, body, and soul. The roots of multiple modern medicines are derived from the Vedas too. Vedas are the oldest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization. The Atharva Veda has a sub-Veda of its own called Ayurveda. Ayurveda uses plants and herbs in making medicines. In ancient times, Ayurveda was the solution to all ailments and diseases. Ayurveda uses natural things like herbs, plants, colors, gems, aroma, mantras, yoga, meditation, and surgery to cure diseases and ailments. The principle of Ayurveda says that illness can be treated by creating awareness among ourselves, maintaining a balance, and controlling our mind. The School of Thoughts There are two main schools of thought in Ayurveda, namely- Atreya (school of physicians) and Dhanvantari (school of surgeons). In this blog, we will be discussing the second school of thought- the school of surgeons. Surgery is the answer to most of the ailments and problems in modern science. But the history of surgery goes back to the time when ancient Indian doctors practiced surgical operation for the first time 2500 years ago. Ancient Indian scientists have been pioneers of scientific and medical innovations of modern times. There were many physicians and practitioners practicing classical medicine in the ancient period like Dhanwantara, Atreya, and Bhardwaj. But the major contributions in the field were made by Charaka and Sushruta. Sushruta was probably the first Indian surgeon who has written the book Sushruta Samhita where he has mentioned 120 surgical instruments, 300 surgical procedures and classifies human surgery into 8 categories. He is commonly known as the father of surgery. Surgery is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda. Sushruta was the first to study human anatomy. In his book, he has described in detail about human anatomy with the help of a dead body. Sushruta had expertise in rhinoplasty (Plastic surgery) and ophthalmology (ejection of cataracts). He used ancient surgery as an option where the medicines or drugs used to fail. Sushruta has described surgery under eight heads Chedya (excision), Lekhya (scarification), Vidhya (puncturing), Esya (exploration), Ahrya (extraction), Vsraya (evacuation), and Sivya (Suturing). Sushruta was a specialist in ophthalmology (ejection of cataracts) too. The procedure of the operation has been mentioned in his book, and it sounds like the same operation, which is performed by ophthalmologists these days. His method of venesection is still brought in use for the treatment of polycythemia vera (a blood disorder). He was one of the first to study human autonomy with the aid of dead body. Sushruta’s Explanation Sushruta has described the procedure as the body should be preserved and should not be too old or has died because of poison or any other disease. First, the intestine is cleaned, and then the body will be wrapped in the inner bark of trees or grass and kept in a cage. The cage should be placed in a river with a gentle current and the body is left to soften. The body will then be taken out of the water after seven days with grassroots, hair, and bamboo will be brushed off one layer at a time and then all the parts of the body can be observed with the eye. Many techniques for the removal of foreign bodies like metal, sticks, etc., are also mentioned in his book. He had excellent knowledge of orthopedic as well. He corrected the fractures after making a detailed analysis of the broken pieces of bones. He has also mentioned steps for non-delivery of full-term pregnant women which is nowadays known as cesarian. Sushruta’s significant contribution was in the field of plastic surgery. The ancient surgical steps are mentioned in detail in his book. His was so much success in this surgery that people from different countries would come to him for surgery. The details of the surgery described in the book are quite similar to the one done in the present day. He also used the techniques of Agni karma and kasha karma where unnecessary tissue was destroyed by heat, electricity, or corrosive chemicals. This technique was used on the wounds to finish extra granular tissue. The book also mentions the treatment of bites of animals like snakes, rats, scorpions, etc. Sushruta used the method of big ants to tie internal wounds. The procedure involves the biting of the cut ends by the ant and then cutting the body of the ant. This method is still prevalent in many countries. Charaka was another noted practitioner of ancient times. Charaka was the first physician to study digestion, metabolism, and immunity. He believed that the body is ill when there is disbalance in the three doshas present in the human body naming- bile, phlegm, and wind. Charaka also had knowledge of genetics. He knew the factors which determine the sex of the child. He also told that any birth defect in a child is not because of a genetic defect in the mother or father but it is the defect in the ovary or spectrum of the parents. He was of the view that it is necessary to prevent the disease first rather than finding a cure for it. The chakra Samhita became so popular that it was translated in many languages. It contains 120 chapters on eight topics- surgery, eye and head treatment, therapeutics, toxicology. Paediatrics, mental disease and treatment of reproductive systems.it also mentions the effect of diet and yoga on the mind and body. It also emphasised the importance of herbs and plants in making medicines. Conclusion Ayurveda has been in practice and used since ancient times. This system of healing holds a high status in Indian medicine and its no side-effect treatments are now gaining a lot of praise in the international markets too. While modern equipment have replaced the ancient methods which Sushruta had used, it will not be
A Brief History of Visual Arts
Introduction The caves of Ajanta and Ellora, the carved lions of Ashoka’s pillars, the beautiful architecture of temples and palaces carved out of mountains, the Madhubani paintings, rocks in Mahabalipuram, in Khajuraho and Konark are some of the examples of rich and varied heritage of architecture, paintings, sculptures, and handicrafts. A brief history of the art of the Ajanti and Ellori caves, which are often visited by Italian online casino players on excursions to diversify their lives. India has a lot of cultural diversity, art, and Italian online casino players can trova nuovi casinò online qui. Among the many arts, works for online casino players, this is a pleasure for the eyes. India is a land of rich cultural diversity which is reflected in the vivid, enchanting, enormous, and classic form of art and craft. There are a variety of painting styles prevalent in different regions representing the beautiful customs, traditions, and ideas. These arts and paintings have been prevalent since the starting of human civilization. They are still preserved and make for the rich and luxurious architecture of the country. Among a plethora of art forms present, there are some stunning pieces of visual arts as well—art in any form whether painting, sculptures, temples is a treat for the eyes. Visual art is art that can be seen, touched, and felt. Visual art comprises fine art, contemporary art, decorative arts, and crafts. Under the category of the fine arts, drawings, paintings, sculpture, printmaking, etc. are included. Under the contemporary art category, activities like photography, animation, assemblage, collage, performance art, etc. under the decorative art and crafts works like ceramics, glass paintings, pottery, mosaic art, etc. are included. More widely, visual art can consist of the tattoo, face and body painting, graphic and fashion designing. The History of Visual Arts The history of visual arts is long and old. The first miniature painting in India existed in the form of examples of the religious texts on Buddhism and the Jain text in western Indian during the 11th and 12th centuries. During the 15th century, the style of the west of painting was influenced by the Persian style of painting. The hunting scenes and facial types can be seen on the borders of the manuscripts of the Kalpa sutra. The major transformation in the history of paintings started with the origin of the Mughal school of painting. The Mughal style paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries were Bijapur, Golconda, and Ahmednagar. The Mughal style of paintings developed and the influence could be seen in the 17th and 18th centuries also. The visual art of central India the Pahari and Rajasthani region emphasised more on traditions, cultures, religious texts and epics and folklore. These became very popular in the latter half of the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century. The European traders and rulers came to India and brought in their ideas and thoughts, which is reflected in the art of that time. The artists had their creative thinking and wanted to show an unseen picture of India. This brought innovations in Indian visual art. Two forms of visual arts developed in India during and after the colonial period, namely- Imperial art and Indian art. Imperial Art This form of art prevailed in the 18th century when European travellers came to India. They had a different set of ideas to portray the culture and heritage of India. They wanted to give it a western touch. Unique and new style and techniques of arts were developed like- One of the most important art forms that rose the level of visual arts in India was history painting. The artists made paintings on the political strength and power of the British raj. Their paintings depicted battles, wars, victories and the monarchy of rulers. The first history painting was made in 1762, which represented the success of the campaign of Plassey. The painting is still displayed at the Vauxhall Gardens in London Another popular form of visual arts of Colonial times was the portrait paintings. The European travelers made paintings that were prominent in size and looked realistic. The British and Indian rulers were very fond of being displayed on the canvas. The portrait paintings depicted the richness, luxuries, and status of the elites of the time. Another development in the field of visual arts was the realistic approach to paintings. The paintings represented the rituals, daily life routine, battles, and significant incidents of the Britishers. This form of visual art used oil paints and had a better connection as they were close to reality. The court artists always had a traditional approach towards visual art. As the imperial art evolved, the court artists brought changes to their art forms and taught the blend of colonial and traditional art forms. The courts of Mir Zafar and Mir Qasam are an excellent example of this.The European travelers and artists also came up with the picturesque landscape painting form of visual art. The artists were very keen on knowing about the natural surroundings of India. The artists depicted the British’s conquests to the people in Britain and Europe. Around the year 1785, an artist Thomas Danielle along with his nephew traveled across Calcutta and other parts of north India. They showed the city lifestyle, landscape, and the establishments of Britishers. Indian Art The other form of visual art that developed during the colonial period was the Indian Art. During the 19th century, an entirely different form of visual art was seen. The art form was unique and innovative. The rural artists shifted to Calcutta and started making scroll paintings and made paintings related to god and goddesses. The paintings had a more religious touch to them. With the advent of time, the Kalighat artists included cultures, values, and social norms of the new Calcutta. The scroll paintings depicted the attires, culture, and traditions of the people of the west. The paintings were then given a new form by introducing printing in the region.
