Ohm, Nada, Sadhana, the essence of sound 3
The syllable OHM not only manifests in the form of sound but is also claimed to be experienced as physical light and heat. All things are based on vibrational frequencies, as stated in the Vedas and Upanishads. From the Mandukya Upanishad:
"The syllable OHM, which is the imperishable Brahman in the universe. Whatsoever has existed, whatsoever exists, whatsoever shall exist hereafter, is OHM, and whatsoever transcends past, present, and future, that is also OHM."
The use of the tanpura in this meditative practice is essential—not only to provide a tonal foundation for singing and to help us feel and hear the deep resonance, but also to assist in perceiving the subconscious levels within us. B.C. Deva writes about this:
"That the unconscious operates in all our perceptions is beyond doubt. The best clue to this is the realisation that out of the extraordinary number of stimuli we receive from the outside and inside, we are aware of only very few at a time. Now, the presence of the other stimuli cannot be denied. Therefore, they must be perceived at some level, which is obviously at the sub- and unconscious levels. Such a process must certainly be operating in the case of the creation of the tonal background due to the tanpura."
Music, through vibration, has an incredible power over us. It can move us deeply, even making the strongest among us cry. It reaches into the core of our being, lifting us from the ordinary to the limitless freedom of the spirit. The Sufis say that music has a divine connection with God:
"Sound is considered to be undertones of the celestial vibrations, but it is believed to contain something of the celestial tones. That's why some of us feel a divine connection between music and God. It is through these undertones that the overtones become a vehicle back to the heavenly plains."