Ragas for Anxiety
23 ragas in the tradition are associated with anxiety. Which one suits you depends on the hour you are listening and on your own chart, so the times below matter as much as the names.
Warm sunrise raga; widely used in music-therapy contexts for gentle emotional opening.
Traditionally regarded as therapeutic — said to steady blood pressure and settle the emotions. Sung as lullaby and as prayer.
Night raga of waiting and love; traditionally deeply soothing before sleep.
Soft, luminous night raga; traditionally used to close the day gently.
Luminous late-night raga; traditionally used to close the day.
Said to be very effective in easing tension and anxiety, relieving mental shock, and improving concentration and restful sleep.
The imperial night raga; the most frequently cited raga in Indian music-therapy literature for tension and anxiety.
Uncluttered night pentatonic; traditionally stabilising.
Balanced and pleasing; traditionally used for calm, even-minded practice.
A deep pentatonic of the small hours. Traditionally used for dhyana, and to quiet an overactive mind.
Central, comfortable night raga; traditionally cooling and steadying.
Said to help lift low mood and anxiety and to reduce absent-mindedness.
Said to strengthen the mind and relieve tension, worry and distress, evoking a cool, soothing, deep mood.
Sung at the close of every concert. Traditionally considered wholly benefic and healing — safe at any hour.
The classic raga of the small hours; traditionally profound, stilling and used for dhyana.
The classical lullaby raga — traditionally said to induce sleep. Best used at night only.
Free, all-note light raga of thumri; traditionally used to lift low mood.
Traditionally held to pacify anger; its name itself means forbearance. Soothing at any hour, especially late night.
Level and calming, as its name suggests; traditionally used to even out the mind.
The raga of Shanmukha (Kartikeya). Traditionally used for protection, focus and fearlessness.
For a healthy mind and body — love, gentleness, peace, tranquillity and serenity. A bhashanga raga using all twelve swaras; sung at dawn and as a concluding piece.
Gentle and rounded; traditionally soothing to a restless heart.
The first raga of the evening and of most curricula; traditionally auspicious and calming.
Two people cannot use the same raga for the same problem
The tradition matches sound to the chart, not to the symptom. Jeevanii reads your Moon's condition, your current dasha and your nakshatra, then names the ragas. Free, no signup.
Get your free chartRaga therapy is a traditional and complementary practice for emotional well-being, not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.