A quality work of art must evoke any or all of the nine emotions. As per ancient Indian theory of aesthetics, Love, anger, bravery, mirth, compassion, aversion, amazement, fright and peace are the nine emotions.

According to scriptures there are nine traditional stages of Bhakti.

1.     Sunan or hearing the holy word.

2.     Kirtan or singing the praise of God.

3.     Simran or the remembrance of Lord.

4.     Puja or love worship of Lord.

5.     Pad-Sevan or surrender of the self at Lord's feet.

6.     Vandana or supplication to the lord.

7.     Dasa-bhava or service to the lord.

8.     Maitri-bhava or friendship with the lord and total dependence on him. And

9.     Atmanivedan or surrendering oneself to the lord as an act of total dedication and surrender.

The above leads to the merger of an individual's soul, with the universal soul.

In India, seers and saints have contributed greatly to the development of classical music with their devotional songs.jayadev goswami was one of the first mystical singers of vaishnav Bhakti.chaitanya of Bengal too sang of the mystic love of Krishna and Radha. Swami Haridass, tansen's guru was an expert in dhrupad style of devotional music.

The first five Sikh gurus were great musicians. They encouraged professional singers for the benefit of their congregations. In 1604, that for the first time, the largest ever collection of sacred hymns of the first five gurus, 15 saints and 15 bards was compiled and named Adi Granth. Guru Arjun Dev said; union with god is attained through kirtan".

The gurus regarded sacred music as a means of spiritual sadhna. In Bengal, Rabinderanath  Tagore evolved the Rabindera sangeet style, he wrote;" when thou commandest me to sing, it seems that my heart would break in pride/,and I look to thy face and tears come to my eyes/ drunk with the joy of singing, I forget myself and call./thee friend who art my lord".

Music is an integral part of Sufi devotion. They call it Samai Hakani or spiritual trance. The Christi mystics of northern India encouraged the qawwals or musicians to sing the praise of god and then got in to a situation of rapture when all danced together in a sort of mystic trance.

In India the Bhakti movement gave an impetus to sacred music.

Music is a spiritual aid because it "wakes the soul and lifts it high and wings it with sublime desired and fits it to bespeak the deity".