The root gae means to express an idea through regular rhythm, beat and cadence. It explains why not only human beings but also animals, birds, worms and insects can sing. In the human body the kúrma nád́ii [energy channels related to vocal cord], expanding and contracting upwards, downwards and sideways, distributes the sounds of a song and thereby nourishes the sapta loakik svar or seven basic musical sounds e.g., śad́aja, rśava, gándhára, madhyama, paiṋcama, dhaevata and niśáda (sá, re, gá, má, pá, dhá, ni). Moreover, they also give expression to the seven Vedic svarapráńa [vocal sound originating deep within] like oṋm, hum, phat́, baośat́, bośat́, sváhá, namah⁽¹⁾, and also the two basic propensities, viśa and amrta⁽²⁾ , symbolizing the hoarseness and mellifluousness of the voice. This is why human beings cannot exert full control over these sixteen basic sounds, i.e., seven basic musical notes plus seven Vedic svarapráńa plus two notes viśa and ámrta (which are related to musical qualities) unless there is some innate quality of the kúrma nád́ii, or there is some inherent power or divine power or intense sadhana or constant music practice.

The functional ambit of the root verb gae comprises of sixteen specific sub-glands which secrete special kinds of hormones. Through specialized concentration on kúrma nád́ii, short, long, elongated and tremolo sounds must be forced out aided by the power (shakti) of vaekharii [force of vocal expression]. Pará, pashyanti, madhyamá, dyotamáná, vaekharii and shrutigocará are the centres of the power in the human body – all arranged in tiers. Hence their usage is to be learnt step by step. In tandem with this learning, the linguistic expression in accompaniment with regular beat, cadence and rhythm is what is known as song. Many of you can sing well, I see. Remember what I have said. You do know and understand the classified arrangements of udárá, mudárá, tárá [the lowest, intermediate and highest musical octaves usually in reference to Indian musical scales].

A bull possesses natural control over its kúrma nád́ii. Control over kúrma nád́ii helps the limbs of the body come under control. You will notice that sometimes a bull, while concentrating on its kúrma nád́ii, can stand still like a statue carved out of stone hour after hour. This you will seldom find in any other being.

The surasaptaka and the occidental musical octave have no basic difference. The seven musical notes sá, re, gá, má, pá, dhá, ni constitutes surasaptaka or the Indian musical notes, and the Western musical octave comprises the eight notes do, re, mi, fá, sol, lá, si, do. … Do comes twice and thus the combination of eight produces the octave.

Footnotes

(1) They also represent seven propensities like the following: acoustic root of creation (oṋm), sound of kula kuńd́alinii (hum), fruition or practication (phat́), development of mundane knowledge (vaośat́), welfare in the subtler sphere (vaśat́), pious resolve and universal welfare (sváhá), surrender to the supreme (namah). –Trans.

(2) viśa – repulsion, poisonous mentality;
     amrta – attraction for the great. –Trans.