Music Meditation

Ragamala Album: Gujjari Ragini, Nepal: Bhaktapur (?), c.1625

A ragamala, Sanskrit for "garland of ragas," is a series of paintings that illustrate a range of ragas or melodies from Indian classical music traditions. Each painting is a combination of music, poetry and the visual arts, and the subjects are associated with specific actions, emotions, types of people, seasons and times of the day. Here, we see a ragini (a melody derivative to a raga), playing the vina, a plucked stringed instrument. The verse above her reads, "This is Gujjari, who was born from the mouth of Tantri [a stringed musical instrument]. She has a dark complexion and beautiful hair. She sits on a bed of delicate shiny sprouts of a sandal tree and distinguishes the notes and micronotes." 

Take a moment to mindfully experience music. 

• Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths.
• Play your favorite piece of music and close your eyes. 
• Notice the nuance of each note, absorb each word (if there are lyrics) and feel the tempo with your whole body.
• Experience the melody as if it is your first time hearing it.
• Take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.
• Notice how you feel.