Music therapy based on individual’s ‘biological humor’ – with reference to medical astrology: a review

Summary of article contents:

Ayurveda is an ancient science which mainly focuses on preventing and treating diseases based on the knowledge of the dosha or humour or constitution of the person. In Ayurveda, the constitution is known through questionnaires, Nadi Parisksha or pulse examination and physical examination. There is also a method of knowing the predominating dosha or humour by examining the birth chart which gives the planetary position and the constellation (Nakshatra) of an individual. This constitutes an important aspect of Medical Astrology which also gives disease propensity of a person. However, for healing purposes, we must also consider individual’s habits, tendencies, influences and desires, which create the pattern of our lives down to the subconscious and instinctual levels. We must willfully change the way we live, breathe, see and think, altering our very ego or sense of self in a positive way. This may be done through various tools provided in our ancient scriptures such as Yoga, Music and Mantras. Music therapy is one of the complementary methods of healing as prescribed in Ayurveda, which works as Mind-Body Medicine. The Indian melodies or Ragas which brings out positive emotions, warding off the negative ones, helps to change one's thought patterns. In this paper, we have attempted to connect the three ancient systems of healing – Ayurveda, Medical Astrology and Music therapy. We have listed the Ragas based on Biorhythm theory depicting particular aesthetic mood or positive emotions as a part of music therapy. These Ragas are correlated with that of the constitution or Prakriti of an individual, based on constellation or Nakshatra. Keywords: Ayurveda , Medical Astrology, Doshas , Music therapy, Constellation or Nakshatra Nagarajan Karuna