Anahata Nada

The Cosmic Unstruck Sound - Common questions answered - Part 1

When did the Anahata Nada experience occur ?

It was in November 2020. It happened all of a sudden for me. I have been practicing meditation for almost 5 to 6 years by then . It was in 2017 that I got initiated into Shiva Yoga by my Guru Dr. A.K. Prakashan Gurukkal. It was also after a couple of years of doing self learned meditation. For three years I had been practicing Shiv yoga as instructed by my Guru.

What led me to this Anahata Nada experience?

The thing, that I believe that led me do this experience was - "I had been doing my sadhana without any expectations and with full heart. Knowing the truth was my only goal. Even whenever I went to temples to pray, I have only prayed to help me know the truth..."

Does it occur after Kundalini Awakening?

Yes indeed, it was after kundalini Awakening. But I have different opinions regarding so called kundalini Awakening. I do not consider Kundalini as a separate energy that is only experienced from yoga, but my experience is that it is the primordial energy or the life energy existing in each and every element of the Universe. This energy is indeed active in everybody, without it there is neither life nor existence. It is only that people are not able to experience this energy like a Yogi's with all the madness of visions, astral travels, shiverings etc.. So I prefer to say that, it happens after the one recognises and charges his energy.

How did the experience start ?

It started to me like hearing of sound of ocean waves but I didn't notice it until again I heard a beating sound suddenly through the right ear. It was only after hearing a couple of these noises in succession, I noted that it was something else, the Anahata Nada.

Role of guru/Need of guru during this time ?

I was lucky enough in this time to speak with my Guru. Gurukkal is person who rarely spends more than more than a minute in phone. I am ever grateful that he spend an hour talking to me, giving me needed guidelines. The most important advice from him was that - "Hey Tharun, you are not hearing the Anahata Nada with your permission but you are hearing it because of the Will of Existence and you are nobody to control it. So why do you have to fear? Just listen to the sound ?"

What exactly did I had to do while going through nada experience ?

On hearing Anahata nada the only thing that you have to do used is to listen without any expectations and continue mediataion . You will hear it through your right inner ear. Just listen and meditate on it. Follow it. If you are troubled with expectations, for example you have read a book that explains the sequence of those sounds etc.., then he/she may presume what will be heard next etc..

It is said that there are 10 different Nadas ?

Yes, indeed. But my experience is that there is no point in counting it. It can even be felt as even more as there is occurrences when he hears them separately as well as together. Initially it started to me as voices of nature like sound and the sound of an ocean, bee etc.. then it developed itself into sound of various Indian musical instruments like the Venna, flute, cymbals, large Tibettan drums, Kerala Chenda Melam, Lightning etc. I can really remember the sequence as it was before 4 years. I can only remember the great admiration that I felt to all Ancient Indian Musicians who drafted our classical music. It can also happen in a different order to another person. On the final stage, I was able to hear the sound Conch for 3 days straight, non stop. I was able to dissolve my concentration on on this particular sound enter into the state of turiya

How long did the experience last ?

For me the experience lasted for a period of almost 20 days. I have never heard Anahata nada before this period. Nor have I heard the Anahata nada after. I also personally know some cases where people hear Anahata nada for longer durations. For example, like hearing a sound or two for some years occasionally. For them I only have a recommendation - Just Listen.

What is the most important change that happened to me after this experience ?

The most important experience or change that happened to me was that from the end of this Anahata nada experience , I am unable to chant any mantra or even use any mantra mentally in meditation. The moment I start chanting the mantra mentally the mind get absorbed into a state of no mind or soundless state.

• Tharun Simson