Article – Music: The Universal Language Of Mankind.

Dear Reader,Thank you for visiting us. In this article we bring you universal insights and wisdom about how Music has influenced us over millennia. We are sure that you will have your own valuable ins

There are many musical instruments, or variations thereof, that are found across the world and are recognisable by most cultures. But when we dig deeper into different cultures and religions, there are plenty of less familiar, uncommon musical instruments as well. World music is a diverse field, and music is a universal language and has been an extremely important component of all cultures and religions throughout human history. It is the lesser-known instruments that constitute the rich diversity and unique value that each religion’s music has to offer. In this article, we bring you universal insights and wisdom about how Music and religion have influenced us over

Music language: A Sacred Story

An old man, who used to sing in front of an Indian Sufi shrine every day, year after year, was once asked: Why is music a daily offering to the divine? Although illiterate, he answered, with the wisdom that comes from the sky and the river: Even when a man is about to commit a murder, if he suddenly hears a temple bell, he will stop in his tracks momentarily. That is because sacred music has the ability to instantly draw us into an inner chamber. It makes us forget ourselves. It instantly connects us to the divine. This deep connection is what makes music and meditation closely linked in many traditions.

Spiritual Music As A Path To The Divine

It is not surprising that spiritual music can be found in every place of worship from time immemorial. Every culture and religion throughout human history has produced its own devotional music, placed very high value on music as an art form, and used it in its religious practice. Music harmonises sounds and rhythms into a singular whole and thus satisfies our cravings for order and beauty.

The church has its choir from which emerged the greatest Western composers of all time…“Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God,” said Brahms; the haunting notes of the “azaan,” the Islamic call to prayer across the Arab world, transport us into a contemplative state; the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, is entirely set to ragas and the verses are sung all day and night; in villages across India, Kabir’s wisdom is set to song; Tibetan chimes set a meditative tone at monasteries; while temples have their own versions of music and meditation.

In short, spiritual music is universally the medium that is a shortcut to the divine. It has the ability to cut through differences. There are so many examples of Muslim musicians singing devotional music of  Hindu hymns, or Hindus singing Sufi verse. Spiritual music allows two or more people to cohabit a shared world that is equally accessible and intelligible to all, despite whatever differences may exist between these people. We can then explore these worlds and find satisfaction in the patterns that emerge before our minds.

This is the power of music and healing. It is not only enjoyable but conducive to healing on both an individual and deeply collective level. It is a non-verbal form of communication that can evoke unspoken bonds between souls.