Santoor Music for Wellbeing: Exploring the Therapeutic Impact of Indian Classical Raags on Mental Wellness

Abstract This review examines the therapeutic role of Indian classical raags performed on the santoor, a hundred-stringed hammered dulcimer from Kashmir, in promoting mental and emotional wellbeing. The santoor’s bright metallic resonance, rich harmonic overtones, and rhythmic precision provide a unique sonic canvas for raags. In traditional practice, raags are aligned with time-of-day (prahar) and mood, rooted in Ayurvedic concepts of balancing doshas. Empirical studies show that listening to specific raags can reduce stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and depressionpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govnature.com. For example, Raag Todi (morning) and Raag Yaman (evening) have demonstrated significant anxiety and blood pressure reduction in controlled trialspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. A recent randomized study found that six days of immersive Raag Bhairavi listening markedly lowered DASS-21 stress/anxiety scores and improved heart-rate variabilitynature.com. We synthesize existing literature and the provided dataset of raags, highlighting how each raag’s emotional “rasa” supports specific therapeutic targets. Crucially, when raags are performed on the santoor, their therapeutic impact is exponentially amplified: the instrument’s hundred-plus strings vibrate in simultaneous sympathetic resonance, generating a uniquely expansive vibrational field that carries each raag’s emotional and physiological intent deeper into the mind and body than any single-voice instrument can achieve. Examples of raags with their emotional tones, health outcomes, and santoor-specific impacts are listed below (starting Page 11). Findings support a structured framework, “Santoor Music for Wellbeing” — linking raags, prahar times, and neurobiological mechanisms. This culturally rooted sound-meditation model has potential to enhance stress relief, emotional balance, and inner calm. Further clinical trials using the santoor are warranted to validate and expand this traditional knowledge.