midimusicindia

History of music in India needs to be traced through literary works of the period. There is widespread controversy about dating of all these important texts. The right wing re-writers of history would like to place them as early as possible, whereas traditional academician of history, languages, philosophy, mythology and cultures of the Indian subcontinent date them to later period. Generally most of the texts were taught in Vaydic Schools/Ashrams (Pathshala) the ancient education system that prevailed or Gurukuls -Guru refers to "teacher" or "master"; Kul refers to his domain. Disciples or the students (Shishya) mostly lived with the teacher until they acquired complete lesson from Guru. Thus is the beginning of Guru -Shishya (Devotional Teacher Disciples) parampara ("Perceptional succession" literally from one teacher to another or continuance). In absence of School /Universities the parampara was important in transmitting knowledge, whether religious or musical, to the next generation. This may be one the reasons why a lot of these were never scripted in any form even after the invention of writing, the oral tradition continued

Subsequently Brahman period brought vast changes in the Philosophical, Religious and Music propagation. Though there are much controversy about this period, some articles indicate that earliest Brahman period as per Moon/Constellations & Star in their celestial position, was in 3100 BCE, other mention as 2000 BCE, whereas some Encyclopedia assume the period between 700-300 BCE. The hymn parts of four Vedas (Sam,Rik, Jaju,Atharba) are called Samhita. All Upanishads were composed by a great number of Saints (Rrishis/Munis) are based on one of the four Vedas. Chandog is the singer of Samans (i.e. the musical hymns of Sam Veda). Chandog Upanishads guided the priests sing the samans properly for ones devotion & dedication to God. The significant aspect of Vedas is that the Vedic hymns should be chanted correctly, no dissimilarity is admitted.

It explains the meaning and importance given to OM . Click here to listen (A-U-M) chanting:

The resonance /direction that the sound wave propagates is from human lower abdomen to nostrils if it is chanted in correct pitch variation including the smallest tonal changes.

Art of dance in India dates back to 4000 BCE. The earliest available evidence of dance (rhythmic) in India could be the figure of the "Dancing woman found at the Mahejodaro-Harappa excavation. This Indus Valley Civilization of 3300–1700 BCE, which flourished in the Indus and Ghaggar_Hakra river. The civilization is sometimes referred to as the Indus Ghaggar-Hakra civilization or the Indus-Saraswati civilization. The peoples who built and inhabited these cities belonged to Harappan Culture or Indus Civilization as archaeologists refer to. These civilizations grown approximately at the same time that of Egypt and/or in Mesopotamia. As with any other aspect related to the Indus Valley civilization, the interpretation is unclear. There has been a break in the recorded history of India between the IndusValley civilization period and 200 CE. It is not clear as to whether during this period there were no recorded/scripted musical History or all the records though existed were hidden or destroyed due to the invaders who invaded this subcontinent time and again between this period. Most likely reason could be the wide range of destruction during such invasions as there were apparently no geophysical record/evidence of major natural calamity/disaster that could wipe out all such recorded History in any form.