India has always recognized the
human voice as the most perfect instrument of sound. Hindu music
therefore largely confines itself to the voice range of three
octaves. For the same reason, melody (relation of successive notes)
is stressed, rather than harmony (relation of simultaneous notes).
The deeper aim of the early rishi-musicians was to blend the singer
with the Cosmic Song which can be heard through awakening of man's
occult spinal centers. Indian music is a subjective, spiritual,
and individualistic art, aiming not at symphonic brilliance but at
personal harmony with the Oversoul. The Sanskrit word for musician
is BHAGAVATHAR, "he who sings the praises of God." The SANKIRTANS
or musical gatherings are an effective form of yoga or spiritual
discipline, necessitating deep concentration, intense absorption
in the seed thought and sound. Because man himself is an expression
of the Creative Word, sound has the most potent and immediate effect
on him, offering a way to remembrance of his divine origin.
The SANKIRTAN issuing from Sri Yukteswar's second-story sitting
room on the day of the festival was inspiring to the cooks amidst
the steaming pots. My brother disciples and I joyously sang the
refrains, beating time with our hands.
By sunset we had served our hundreds of visitors with KHICHURI (rice
and lentils), vegetable curry, and rice pudding. We laid cotton
blankets over the courtyard; soon the assemblage was squatting
under the starry vault, quietly attentive to the wisdom pouring from
Sri Yukteswar's lips.
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