Naad (Sound)

The melodious sound whose movement number is regular and constant is called Naad. This melodious sound is used in music. A sound which is irregular and unstable is not useful for music. It is not called Naad (Sound), it is called noise. Matang Muni writes in his book Brahmadeshi,

Neither Naaden without Geet nor Naaden without Swara.
Neither Naaden without knowledge nor Naaden without Shiva.

That is, without Naad, song and voice cannot be produced, without Naad there can be no knowledge and well-being.

Two types of sound:

(1) Ahat Naad:

The sound which is produced by rubbing of two objects is called Ahat Naad, like the sound produced when plucking the strings of a sitar, guitar or the sound produced when air is filled in a flute.

(2) Anahat Naad:

The sound which occurs without any rubbing is called Anahat Naad, such sound is known only through knowledge. Our sages used to worship this sound which is heard when both the ears are closed tightly.

Three characteristics of (Naad) sound:

(1) Shortening or lengthening of the Naad:

The sound produced softly is called small sound and the sound produced loudly is called big sound.

(2) Height or lowness of a Naad:

When one Naad (note) is higher than another Naad (note), it is called height of the Naad (note). Like 'S' to 'R' and when one Naad (note) is lower than the other it is called inferiority of the Naad (note), like 'R' to 'S'.

(3) Type or quality of Naad (sound):

Just as the sound of sitar is different from guitar, the sound of guitar is different from Sarangi, the sound of Sarangi is different from Tabla, this difference in sound is called the type or quality of Naad (sound).