"MUSIC FOR MEDITATION" may be used as an aid to meditate or just listened to as an abstract piece of music. The music is based on the practices of Kriya Yoga, part of tantric system of meditation, a path to the awakening of kundalini, the powerful potential energy within each individual. The actual practice of Kriya, if dane completely, would take three hours so obviously the practices are curtailed in terms of time.

The music is based on North Indian ragas, but these are treated unconventionally. Strains of different ragas emerge and blend, just like the thoughts of a wandering mind which have to be stilled. Inner turmoil is part of the meditation process; this too is reflected in the music in some dramatic moments, but towords the end, all is quiet, all is peace.

The composition of the music is structured to the number of repetitions to be followed in each practice. A single unit of time is followed throughout -- 60 beats to minute -- in order to slow down the heartbeat and pulse rate; this has been deliberately done to create the sense withdrawal necessary for contemplation. Similarly, deliberate use is made of electronic instruments and samplers to give a feeling of detachment and aloofness. However much use is made of the solo voice in dhrupad style, as the voice is very important in any meditational practice and the form of dhrupad is contemplativein nature.

The meditational practice is based on the seven chakras of the body, situated from the crown of the head to the centre of the body. The energies of these chakras are touched, awakened and illuminated, first by redirection of the energy (the inverted attitude) and then by conducting the sound (OM), breath and word consciousness. Here, the dhrupad Nom-Tom replaces the So-ham that is used in actual practice. Psychic loks aid the process of concentration, while the last part is the bliss of contemplation manifested by the thousand petalled lotus emerging from the crown of consciousness.

                                                                                                   -VANRAJ BHATIA