Nāda and Nirvāṇa: The Metaphysics of Sound in Indian Philosophical Traditions

Abstract

This essay looks into the complex philosophical connection between Nāda (sound) and Nirvāna (liberation) in different Indian philosophical systems, such as Buddhism, Vedānta, and Sākhya. It looks at how sound works not only as an audible experience but also as a basic ontological principle that connects what is real and what is not real. The study looks at the different ways Indian thinkers thought about sound, from vaikharī to parā śabda. It shows how they saw nāda as a way to reach higher levels of consciousness, leading to the disappearance of self into the Absolute. In Vedānta, nāda is a subtle vibration that points to Brahman. In Sāⲃkhya, it marks the border between prakṛti and puruṣa. In Tantra, it helps the inner ascent through kuṇḍalinī awakening. And in Buddhist thought, it represents how everything changes and is empty at its core. The paper uses ancient texts, mystic insights, and modern interpretations to argue that sound is both a road and an endpoint in Indian metaphysics. It offers a sonic metaphysics that goes beyond the real world and points to ultimate freedom.