Many kingdoms in India have patronised Buddhism as a religion, which was born on Indian soil itself around the 6th century BCE. However, despite that, today, few still follow the religion in India.
Nevertheless, Buddhism has subtly woven its principles into various facets of Indian life, including art, architecture, literature, and, most notably, music – thus, it is an integral aspect of India’s cultural fabric.
ANI
In Northeast India specifically, Buddhism’s influence can be seen in the region’s musical heritage.
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Nirvana, Samsara and meditative silence incorporated in music
Buddhism is a religion that thrives on the concepts of compassion, mindfulness, and the impermanence of life.
The Buddhist notion of ‘Nirvana’, meaning the ultimate state of liberation and that of ‘Samsara’, meaning the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, is regularly portrayed in the lyrics and melodies of the North East’s traditional songs.
This can be seen in the music of the Bodos, where the use of metaphoric lyrics conveys the soul’s journey through Samsara and towards Nirvana.
Another central tenet of Buddhism is the idea of silence and tranquillity, of finding peace within oneself. The pursuit of inner harmony is reflected in the music from Northeast India, where silence often holds as much significance as sound.
ANI
For instance, the Buddhist practice of silent meditation is mirrored in the folk songs of the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, which uses periods of silence to imbue them with a meditative quality.
Influence of Buddhism also seen in musical instruments
The Buddhist religious practice involves the use of unique instruments which have found their way into the music from Northeast India.
For instance, the Tibetan singing bowl, also known as ‘rin gongs,’ is a quintessential Buddhist instrument. The harmonic tones produced by this instrument are believed to promote healing.
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This, too, has been adopted in various musical forms across the Northeast Indian region.
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