A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF MUSIC IN INDIA

Music is something that makes me happy. I do not know how to sing or play any musical instrument, but I love listening, enjoying, and feeling the music. It makes me feel relaxed and content. And I am sure that just like me you too love music.

- Purvi Talreja

But have you ever wondered how it came into the lives of human beings and how it evolved over the years? 

Music has been a part of human beings' daily lives for ages. If genuinely love music, you will understand that it is everywhere, in every sound. We could trace the existence of music from ancient discoveries, and after studying them, we could apprehend that it evolved and developed with time and different phases. The journey of music and existence is different in every region. You would find the instruments used in Western countries vary from the instruments popular in Asian countries. Every instrument, every note, and every country has a history in music. So, let us discuss how music evolved in India.

The Indian mythologies trace the origin of music and sound with the source of music and show how important it has been in our lives. Naadbrahma, the sound of Brahma, is said to be the purest sound and the first sound of the universe. It is also said that Rishi Narad introduced Earth to heaven's art of music.

Ancient Sanskrit literature like Vedas is made of musical references. "Taal," the music concept, can be traced to the Vedic period. Rituals, art, and plays were performed with music in this era, as the documents from this period described. Sam Veda, one of the four Vedas, contained music in organised form and ragas. In the late Vedic period, verses were chanted in musical patterns called Samgana.