Two Forms of Nada
Anahata Nada
अनाहत नाद
Unstruck sound — cosmic vibration that exists without physical contact
Examples:
- • Om
- • Inner humming in meditation
- • The sound of silence
Ahata Nada
आहत नाद
Struck sound — produced by physical contact between objects
Examples:
- • Musical instruments
- • Voice
- • Clapping
Nada Hierarchy — Four Levels of Sound
1
Para
The transcendental, undifferentiated cosmic sound
2
Pashyanti
Visualised sound — seen internally before spoken
3
Madhyama
Mental sound — thought but not yet spoken
4
Vaikhari
Expressed sound — spoken or heard by others
Nada in Scriptures
Natya Shastra
— Bharata Muni
"Nada brahma jagat sarvam"
The entire universe is Nada Brahma
Nada Bindu Upanishad
— Unknown
"Shiva is Nada, Shakti is Bindu"
Cosmic union expressed as sound
10 Forms of Anahata Nada in Yoga
The Nada Bindu Upanishad describes ten progressive inner sounds heard in deep meditation:
1Chini (like a cricket)
2Chini-chini
3Bell sound
4Conch sound
5Lute sound
6Cymbal/Tala
7Flute sound
8Bheri (drum)
9Mridanga (drum)
10Thunder