Music in India has always been more than art—it is a sacred link between humans and the divine. From the Sāmaveda’s hymns set to melody to the detailed theories of the Nāṭyaśāstra and Saṅgītaratnākara, music shaped spiritual and cultural life. Temple rituals, court patronage, and devotional movements nurtured forms like Dhrupad, kīrtan, and qawwali. In modern times, cinema, fusion, and global collaborations carry this ancient tradition into a new era.