määratus

Müratus is a term used in the study of comparative mythology to describe a type of ritualistic trance state that is achieved through instrumental music or rhythmic chanting. The concept was first described in early 20th century ethnographic work on South Asian shamanic practices, where fieldworkers noted that participants experienced a distinct sense of heightened awareness that facilitated communication with spiritual entities. Anthropologists have since applied the term to examine similar phenomena in African drum circles, Native American powwow ceremonies, and contemporary meditative practices that incorporate sound therapy.

In practice, a müratus trance is induced by a carefully arranged sonic environment, often featuring repetitive motifs and synchronized percussion. Participants may exhibit altered posture, increased heart rate, and intense focus on the auditory cues. When the trance reaches its peak, the individual reportedly enters a state of altered cognition in which symbolic messages and ancestral memories are retrieved and transmitted to the wider community. The experience is considered a critical component of communal knowledge transfer, providing a medium for storytelling, prophecy, and decision-making.

Scholars debate the extent to which müratus is a culturally constructed phenomenon versus a universal neural response to rhythmic stimulation. Neuroscientific studies suggest that low-frequency oscillations in the brain's thalamocortical networks are amplified during such trance states, offering a potential neurobiological explanation. The term continues to be used in interdisciplinary research linking musicology, cognitive science, and cultural studies.