Vedic chanting is a psychosomatic route to physical and intellectual wellness.
And if you practice regular chanting of mantras, it is believed to wipe out fear, anger and depression, and help relieve disorders of the respiratory, digestive, reproductive, circulatory, speech, intellectual and cognitive systems. Chanting also improves one’s memory and power of concentration.
HOW TO DO VEDIC CHANTING?
- Sit on a cotton rug, or chair to conserve body’s bio-electric energy
- Chant slowly and clearly, sticking to the exact pronunciation and emphasis.
- Synchronise the chant with the rhythm of your breath.
- Keep your eyes closed.
- Breathe deep and slow.
- Don’t hold yourself rigid. Let your muscles relax.
- Give it time. The effects are slow but sure to come.
- Learn from experts to chant with proper pronunciation. Here are some shlokas on Guru that you can chant.
HOW DOES REGULAR CHANTING HELP?
In the Sanskrit mantras, the sound vibration emanates from the abdominal area. Because the chant and notes are arise from this area. The vibration then reaches the lungs, the circulatory system, then throat and then towards the head.
It seems incredible that mere chanting can bring about tremendous changes.
The effect of chanting mantra with proper pronunciation (correct ucchaaran) has an overall impact on mind-body. The sound resonates in various parts of the body, according to what is being said.
Sanskrit is a systematic ‘mathematical’ language. It uses fourteen vowels and thirty-five consonants, a total of seven sevens- beginning from throat and proceeding outwards.
If these sounds of the Sanskrit alphabets are multiplied systematically and permuted and combined, we should obtain a scheme which would cover all the languages of the earth, and bring into line all the very various-seeming sounds which constitute the several alphabets of these.
Every word originates first at the level of intelligence and reason. This combination of the two, initiates the kayagni – the fire of the body, which then sets into motion Maruda (the wind), that vibrates, reaches the cerebral level and comes out of the mouth as word ( produced as sound).
Studies are now realising the importance of integrating science and spirituality in order to discover how exactly a chant works.
Chants have been analysed to be energy-based sounds. Voicing a word or a sound produces a physical vibration. Hence, chants thus create thought-energy waves, and the organism vibrates in tune with the energy and spiritual appeal of a chant. Vedic sages knew that when a mantra is chanted rhythmically, it creates a neuro-linguistic effect. Even if you do not know the meaning, such an effect occurs.
You just need to have a good ear, stay true to the punctuations, pauses, pronunciation, notation,length and the force of the chant and repeat it over and over again. The transformation happens step by step, over a period of time.
However, knowing the meaning of what you are chanting tunes your mind towards the essence of that mantra/chant, and helps you reach a certain state of mind.
Scientists call this the Psycholinguistic effect (PLE). Research reveals that NLE and PLE effects are due to the production and spread of chemicals in the brain, which have a calming and curative effect on the body.
For beginners, it is best just to listen to a particular chant repeatedly. It overall gives a composure to the mind.
Listening to mantras regulates blood pressure, the heart rate, brain waves and the adrenalin level. But, remember, just like regular medicines, there are specific chants for specific purposes.
CHANTING AND MEDITATION
Chanting eventually makes us meditate. And meditation requires focus. Therefore, chanting with concentration streamlines the mind and helps it focus on tasks.
Regular chanting sometimes takes you to a meditative state. It happens inadvertently. That is why chanting is so good for kids. It synchronises the body, mind, voice and breath, creating inner harmony, which paves the way for spiritual awakening. Over all it gives a sense of balance to the body and mind.