Nada or Swara, in Sanskrit, meaning sound or note. Yoga means union. Swara yoga means, the science of attaining unity with the supreme oneness, that is the realization of cosmic consciousness through control and manipulation of sound or vibrations. The divine vedas are the testimonies to this fact that it form manifestation of Ishwara through sound. It divides nada into four stages: (1) Para, (2) Pasyanti, (3) Madhyama and (4) Vaikari.
Nāda yoga or Swara Yoga is the ancient Indian metaphysical system that paved the way for modern quantum physics. It reaches a point which says ‘life is nothing but a manifestation of energy flow. The universe is made up of energy vibrations that we call as sound – nāda. It is not only a philosophical system(yoga) but also a medicine. Thus evolved the Sound Healing or Sound Therapy also called Energy medicine in the modern world. The system is based on the premise that the entire cosmos and all that exists in it, including all living things, consists of vibrations (nāda). This concept insists that every block of this universe is built upon the energy of vibrations rather than of matter and particles.
Nāda yoga in its context, divides the vibrations into two, (1) the silent inner vibrations of the self (anahata) and (2) the outer sounds or music (ahata) which carry a bigger spiritual weight than achieved by sensories. This displays the same role of any other yoga form to achieve a deeper unity with both the inner and outer cosmos.
That is the primary reason that most religious rituals are musical in nature. Some saints choose nada yoga as their core medium of attaining their ultimate realization (nirvana). Notable names of such saints to be mentioned here include Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Deekshithar, Shyama Sastry, Kanakadasa, Kabir, Meerabai, Purandaradasa, Kabir, Namdeo, Thukaram.
The Nāda yoga system divides music into two categories: silent vibrations/music of the inner self (anahata), and external music (ahata). While the external music is conveyed to consciousness via sensory organs in the form of the ears, in which mechanical energy is converted to electrochemical energy and then transformed in the brain to sensations of sound, it is the anahata chakra, which is considered responsible for the reception of the internal music, but not in the way of a normal sensory organ. One can not share their anahata with another human being. In other words, this inner vibration of the self, is sacred and once reached will open the practitioner’s chakras, which ultimately will unite the body to the cosmos.
With continued sounds and a focus on silent vibrations of the self and controlled breath, the individual can, according to Nāda yoga, “listen in on” their own anahata, which can take up to nine different forms. Such a process of inner awareness and sensitivity leads to increased self-recollectedness and finally to awakening. One can combine nada yoga with all forms of yoga practices to enhance the efficacy of the end result, the ultimate unity with the cosmos.
