Hour 56 Meditation – Nada Brahma – Sound as the Divine

Nada Brahma – Sound as the Divine

Introduction: The Universe Is Made of Sound

In the Indian yogic tradition, there is a profound declaration:

“Nada Brahma” – Sound is God. The universe is sound.”

Everything in the universe — from the beating of the body to the rotating galaxies — vibrates. Ultimately, this vibration is not a separate entity from consciousness. Because of this, the ancient yogis honored sound not only as a sensory reality, but as a portal into the Divine.

In this module, we delve into Nada Dhyana — the meditation on sound — which leads to the mystical experience that all sound (nada) eventually merges into Brahman, the Ultimate.

Understanding Nada Brahma:

Nada: Sound, vibration, resonance

Brahma: The Absolute, the Infinite, the Formless Source

Nada Brahma: The philosophy and experience that Sound itself is Divine

Shabda Brahman: Sound as the carrier of Brahman; the sacred Word

Four Levels of Sound (According to Yogic and Tantric Understanding):

Transcendent (Para): Unadulterated, unstructured sound; beyond time and space

Subtle (Pashyanti): Imagined sound; between Ajna and Sahasrara

Mental (Madhyama): Thought sound (inner speech); throat (Vishuddhi Chakra)

Gross (Vaikhari): Heard, spoken sound; mouth, vocal cords

Nada meditation allows you to progress from Vaikhari (gross) to Para (silence), from outer noise to inner silence, from form to formless.

Scriptural Roots of Nada Meditation:

Rig Veda: Explains the universe as born out of the sound of the cosmic drum

Upanishads: Mention the “Anahata Nada” — unstruck sound in the heart

Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Chapter 4): Details the Nada Anusandhana practice

Shiva Samhita: Proclaims inner sound as Self-realization technique

What Is Nada Dhyana?

Meditation on sound, including:

External sound: Music, chants, mantras, sounds of nature

Internal sound: The unstruck sound (Anahata Nada) heard in silence

Vibratory awareness: Sensation of sound as energy, rather than hearing it

The meditator dissolves into the sound, then into the origin of the sound, and ultimately into silence.

Types of Nada Brahma Meditation:

Mantra Japa: Repetition of sacred sound such as OM, So-Ham, or personal mantra — Effect: Focus, clarity, cleansing of energy

Bhramari Pranayama: Humming like a bee while closing ears and eyes — Effect: Awakens inner sound, quiets mind

Anahata Nada Meditation: Listening to the inner sound in deep silence — Effect: Results in transcendence, union with the Self

Sound Bath or Classical Music: Listening fully aware to sacred instrumental music — Effect: Opens heart, focuses awareness

Tantric Chanting: Utilization of particular seed sounds (bija mantras) such as Hreem, Aim, Shreem — Effect: Activates chakras, awakens Shakti

Practice: Inner Sound Meditation (Nada Anusandhana):

Sit in comfortable posture with spine straight, eyes closed.

Close ears with thumbs (Shanmukki Mudra or softly compress tragus).

Pay attention to internal sounds appearing on the way — buzzing, ringing, hissing, flue-like tone.

Don’t control or comment on the soundings — only deeply listen.

When attention enhances, you are likely to discern fainter higher pitches.

With time, these soundings even evaporate into expanses of pure silence.

Train for 15–20 minutes at the start, going progressively longer.

Sacred Symbolism: The Way of the Sound

OM (AUM): Symbolizes the whole range of sound — waking (A), dreaming (U), deep sleep (M), and silence

Anahata Nada: “Unstruck Sound” — the original vibration heard during meditation, not produced by any external mechanism

Divine Flute (Krishna): Represents the soul being played by the Divine — pure surrender to Nada

Veena of Saraswati: Knowledge and harmony through the sacred frequency of truth

Benefits of Nada Brahma Meditation:

Deep inner peace and emotional balance

Awakening intuition and subtle consciousness

Activation of Ajna and Sahasrara chakras

Reducing anxiety, insomnia, and mind chatter

Spiritual insight — awareness of the Self as Silence beyond sound

Integrating Nada into Daily Life:

During bathing: Chant quietly or hum to sense vibration in the body

While walking: Listen to nature sounds — birds, wind, leaves — with complete awareness

During cooking: Chant your mantra or listen to sacred music while cooking

Prior to sleep: Hum Bhramari or listen to OM chanting to soothe nervous system

Meditation: Attend to inner vibration or delicate ringing

Questions for Inner Exploration

Am I able to truly listen — not with the ears, but with entire being?

What is the most delicate sound I ever heard within?

How do sounds change my level of being?

Can I remain rooted in awareness even amidst noise or turmoil?

What happens when I move from hearing outer noise to inner silence?

Nada Brahma Is Not a Concept — It Is a Realization

When the seeker, the sound, and the listening all melt away — only Brahman remains.

Sound, silence, and self become one radiant stillness.

As the Rig Veda states:

“In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God.”

This is Nada Brahma — sound as the Divine.