[Column] Religious music around the world and its psychological and social effects - The history of music and prayer as explained through illustrations and timelines -

Column en Healing History Meditation

11 Nov 2025

[Column] Religious music around the world and its psychological and social effects - The history of music and prayer as explained through illustrations and timelines -

Prologue: The universality of music and religion

Text: mmr｜Theme: Comparing religious music from around the world from the perspectives of history, psychology, and physiological effects, and understanding it through illustrations

Music is a universal element that supports religious rituals, prayers, and meditation. From ancient chants to modern healing music, sounds, rhythms, and voices have had a profound impact on the human mind and body.

Rhythm → Adjust brain waves (increase in alpha and theta waves)
Melody → Evoking emotions (relief, elation, tears)
Chorus → Strengthening sense of community

Hindu music: the sound of the universe “Nada Brahma”

Main Forms: Mantras, Bhajans, Ragas
Main instruments: sitar, tabla, harmonium
Representative performers: Ravi Shankar, Bismara Khan
Psychological effect:
Long chanting → Induces meditative state
Repetitive rhythm → Stress reduction
Group chant → Social harmony

Buddhist music: silence and overtone prayer

Major formats: Shomyo, Tibetan communiqué, sutra recitation
Characteristics: Overtone singing method, bell/conch
Psychological effect:
Alpha wave increase → deep relaxation
Breathing and chanting are synchronized → Stability of autonomic nervous system

Effects	Physiological effects
Overtone chanting method	Regulate your breathing and stabilize your brain waves
Conch shell/bell	Improving concentration
Group statement	Sense of security and community

Christian music: solemnity and resonance created by sound

Major formats: Gregorian chant, organ music, gospel
Iconic works:
Chant (Benedictine Order)
Mahalia Jackson”Take My Hand, Precious Lord”
Psychological effect:
Harmony stabilizes heart rate
Reverberations of the church space strengthens the sense of relief
Participation in chorus → Collective upliftment by sharing emotions**

Islamic music: a melodic call to prayer

Major Forms: Adhan, Sufi music (Qawwali)
Characteristics: Mental purification by chanting
Psychological effect:
Breathing rhythm and melody synchronize and enter a trance state
Temporal reset effect due to Adhan

Jewish music: a voice that connects memory and prayer

Format: Cantor chant, synagogue melody
Characteristics: Intonation expression using modes
Psychological effect:
Awakens emotional memory Increases prayer concentration
Music prompts reaffirmation of history and identity

African/Indigenous Religious Music: Earth Rhythm and Trance

Key Format: Drum Ceremony, Call & Response
Psychological effect:
Body resonance/heartbeat synchronization based on rhythm
Group performances strengthen social cohesion
Repeatedly induces ecstatic state (trance)

World Religious Music Timeline

gantt title 世界宗教音楽の発展史 dateFormat YYYY axisFormat %Y todayMarker off section 古代ヴェーダ詠唱（ヒンドゥー） :done, -1500, 500 古代中国・インド音楽理論 : -500, 500 section 中世グレゴリオ聖歌 : 800, 400 チベット声明 : 1100, 900 スーフィー音楽 : 1200, 800 section 近代ゴスペル・スピリチュアル : 1700, 300 アフリカ儀式音楽 : 1500, 500 section 現代瞑想・ヒーリング音楽 : 1900, 125 クロスカルチャー音楽 : 2000, 50

Comparison of psychological and physiological effects of religious music

graph TD A[Hinduism: meditation concentration 5] -->|5| X[ ] B[Buddhism: meditation concentration 5] -->|5| X C[Christianity: Emotional elevation 4] -->|4| X D[Islam: Purification/Concentration 5] -->|5| X E[Judaism: Memory/Mind Concentration 4] -->|4| X F[African Religion: Trance Unity 5] -->|5| X classDef bar fill:#4f81bd,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px,color:#fff; class A,B,C,D,E,F bar;

Time-series changes in psychological effects

timeline title 心理・生理効果の時系列変化 -1500年 : ヴェーダ詠唱 → 集団瞑想の原型 -500年 : 仏教声明 → 呼吸と共鳴による集中 800年 : グレゴリオ聖歌 → 精神的カタルシス 1200年 : スーフィ旋律 → トランス体験 1700年 : ゴスペル → 感情解放と社会的希望 1900年 : ヒーリング音楽 → 科学的瞑想補助 2000年 : デジタル瞑想音楽 → グローバル統合

Psychological effect matrix of each religious music

Religious music	Relaxation	Concentration	Emotional elevation	Social cohesion	Trance induction
Hinduism	◎	◎	○	○	○
Buddhism	◎	◎	△	○	△
Christianity	○	△	◎	◎	△
Islam	○	◎	○	○	◎
Judaism	△	○	◎	○	△
African Religion	△	○	○	◎	◎

(◎: Strong effect, ○: Moderate, △: Weak)

Conclusion: Music is the language of prayer

Religious music deeply moves the human spirit and brings about harmony between body, mind, and society. From ancient mantras to modern ambient music, the underlying theme is a transcendental experience through sound.

Even if religions change, the power of sound points in the same direction. It is the universal rhythm of prayer.