Hinduism and Buddhism Music Essay

This essay examines the significant role of music in Hinduism and Buddhism. It details how music functions within each religion, highlighting key elements like mantras in Hinduism (such as Om) and gathas in Buddhism. The essay contrasts the purposes of music in each faith, noting that while both utilize music to reinforce beliefs and practices, their approaches differ. Hindu music often focuses on melodic effects and a connection to the divine, while Buddhist music emphasizes gentle melodies and the pursuit of awareness and purification. The essay concludes by acknowledging the differences and similarities between the musical traditions of these two major world religions, emphasizing their enduring importance in shaping religious identity and practice.

Running Head: Hinduism and Buddhism Music
Religions of the world
[Document subtitle]

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Hinduism and Buddhism are considered two important religions of the world. In some ways,
Hinduism is the oldest living religion than other religions of the world. Hinduism is the religion
of a large number of people in Nepal and India. On the other hand, Buddhism is considered as a
spiritual tradition that concentrates on attainment of a deep insight into nature of life and spiritual
development. Buddhist does not believe in a personal god, but they believe that nothing is
permanent or fixed and that change is always possible. The chosen artistic form in this essay is
Music. In this paper, we will discuss how music is used within both religions and how the
religion principles and practices and beliefs of Buddhism and Hinduism are represented by the
music art (BECK, 2013). Generally, it can be said that music has played an important role in
spreading religious chants to a great extent especially in Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhism
‘Nam Myoh Renge Kyo’ and Om Mani Padme Hum' or in Hinduism ‘Om' has played an
inspiring role in the life of human beings, through the mystical vibrations that generates while
chanting these hymns. It can be argued that music of both the religions have a significant role in
building principles, beliefs, and practices of both Hinduism and Buddhism religions in the world.
Buddhism has contributed a different style to the world of music. Music of Buddhism mainly
contains a beautiful and esteemed collection of gentle melodies that provide praise to great
Bodhisattvas and all the Buddha. Buddhism music plays an important role in developing beliefs
of the Buddha. It is because Buddhism music was originally composed as expressions of the dark
faith of Buddhist disciplines (Mitchell, 2014). Due to which they give birth to a rich literature
and legacy of effective melodies. Music of Buddhism mainly contains all type of gathas praising
by a large number of Buddha. This will ultimately give birth to various principles which need to
follow by Buddhists. Buddhism music is a combination of a large number of gathas such as
Avalokitesvara Gatha. These gathas contributed more in broadening, and enrichment of

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Buddhism practices among a large number of people. By listening Buddhism music one can
enhance their significant knowledge about the different aspects of the Buddha virtue. Knowledge
about Buddha virtue promotes the regional practices in a large number of people. Apart of this,
the music of Buddha plays an important role in providing intuitive realization of the truths of the
Dharma. This will strengthen the existing beliefs and principles (Misra, 2014). Improvement in
beliefs brings a reduction in negative and harmful habits of speech. Buddhist music is not
designed to excite or elevate the emotions of practitioners, and participants. But it is mainly
designed with the aim of achieving awareness among more and more people. Furthermore, it can
be said that Buddhism music provides the most appropriate and suitable method to purify the
minds and hearts of the people. Buddhism music utilizes current technology to promote its
beliefs and general practices among people. Psychology of Buddhist is considered very
phenomenological in nature. It is because their psychology is highly concerned with the inner
experience of individuals.
It can be said that music in every aspect of life plays a prominent and most important role within
the realm of religion (Lee, 2016). In the same manner music in Hinduism plays a significant part
in the way that the believers relate to their gods, to other believers, and in how they pass down
and understand their religion. One of the most important and interesting aspects of the Hinduism
music is Mantra. It is known as a word, syllable, and phrase of words that are meditated and
chanted upon. It can be said that mantra of Hinduism music is strengthening the belief by
connecting someone with their soul to god. It is generally utilized in Hinduism constantly and
represent a strong connection to the divine. But Buddhism music doesn't do so. It is because
Buddhism doesn't attach the soul of a person with beliefs and traditions. On the other hand, Om
is considered the most important and basic mantra of Hinduism music or every other sound or

Hinduism and Buddhism Music 3
mantra is encompassed in this sound. It can be argued that music in Hinduism entwined into the
lives of Hindus and if someone measures the general practices and beliefs of Hindus they can't
understand how this transpires. The basic beliefs of Hindus are: that there is a universal, eternal
soul who is known as Brahm (Mercier, 2014). It refers to the person who created the life and
present in every form of life. All such beliefs help individuals to adjust to the prevailing
situations and come to terms with their misfortunes and their losses. On the other hand, it can be
said that Hinduism music is hardly linked with the philosophy of religion. It is because Hinduism
music mainly focuses more on melodic effects rather than harmonic variation. Music in
Hinduism works as a spiritual discipline which helps more in creating beliefs and practices of the
religion. With the knowledge of such practices, and beliefs Hindus can build their trust. Apart of
this, the tradition of classical Hinduism music is considered very old one. It is directly taught by
the guru to the discipline (Zhang, 2013). Thus, it can be said that the roots of Hinduism music
play an important role in building religion practices, and beliefs of Hindus.
On the other hand, it can be said that there is the high difference between the music of both the
Hinduism and Buddhism. Hindu music is music which is created for or affected by Hinduism.
On the other hand, Buddhism music is created for and supported by Buddhism as part of
Buddhist art. Moreover, it can be said that Hinduism music mostly focuses on kirtan, classical
music, bhajan, and other musical genres. But, the music of Buddhism mainly emphasis on
honkyoku, chanting, and notable Buddhist music (Tingting, 2015). Such type of music style
makes it different from other religions in a significant manner. Thus, it can be said that music in
both religions plays an important role. In the absence of music, people feel loneliness in their
life. It not only the source of building trust and practices but also considered as a source of
entertainment. Music makes the lives of individuals full of enjoying and happiness.

Hinduism and Buddhism Music 4
After studying above discussion, it can be concluded that music plays an important role in
building trust, and religion practices in both the Hinduism and Buddhism culture. Although they
have a significant difference in living style and behavior, but music gives them same satisfaction
as given in the other cultures. On the other hand, it can be said that old version and a new version
of the music in both religions show the duality of the form spirit evolution, and conservatism
(Ying, 2014). Generally, it can be said that Buddhism music and Hinduism ceremonies are
interdependent. Educational characteristics of Hinduism music are similar to the characteristics
of the Buddhism music. They both are naturally indivisible. So, it can be said that Buddhism and
Hinduism music play a positive role in the continuation of Hinduism and Buddhism music.

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References
BECK, G. (2013). Hinduism and music. The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the Arts, 358.
Mitchell, S. A. (2014). The Ritual Use of Music in US Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist
Communities. Contemporary Buddhism, 15(2), 356-372.
Misra, S., & Shastri, I. (2014). Rumination of Music on Buddhism and Hinduism. International
Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 2(3), 33-40.
Lee, K. C., Oh, A., Zhao, Q., Wu, F. Y., Chen, S., Diaz, T., & Ong, C. K. (2016). Repentance in
Chinese Buddhism: Implications for Mental Health Professionals. Journal of Spirituality in
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Mercier, C., & Long, S. D. (2014). ENRICHING RE THROUGH MUSIC AND ART. Teaching
Religious Education Creatively, 91.
Tingting, Y. A. N., & Juan, S. H. I. (2015). Conservatism and Evolution: Educational
Continuation of Buddhist Music in the Luohan Temple of Chongqing City. Canadian Social
Science, 11(1), 104.
Ying, L. F., Chiat, L. F., & Hao, T. X. (2014). The growing phenomenon of Malaysian musical
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476.
Zhang, D. X., Liu, D. P., Cui, Z. L., & Xiao, M. (2013). Analysis of the Present Situation of
Research on Soundscape and Han-Chinese Buddhist Temples. In Applied Mechanics and
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