Chanting !!!

 Chanting !!!

As I sat down for my blog today, I was drawn to Nirvan Shatakam being played by my husband on his phone. It’s a compilation of six verses written by one of the most brilliant visionaries of India, Adi Shankracharya. But I am not discussing that today.

What I do want to discuss is the importance of mantras in our life. Today science has acknowledged that mantras affect our parasympathetic nervous system and calm our mind. Chanting mantras leads to decreased heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormone levels. 

Mantras create specific vibrations that have the potential to influence brainwave patterns which take our mind from being anxious to feeling relaxed. In terms of science, from beta waves to theta waves.

Mantras if chanted correctly, help us focus our mind and create a state of peace within. The syllables in any mantras are arranged in a specific manner to create very specific sounds affecting different parts of our body and brain. Gayatri mantra 

 has all the 24 syllables, making it the most powerful mantra in the universe. It is the only known mantra that has all 24 of its constituent syllables as beej aksharas, the chanting of which releases a tremendous wave of energy and it affects the 24 marma or pressure points in our body. 

Mantras don’t have to be in Sanskrit. Their origin is not religious. Almost all ancient civilizations had their own sounds spoken in a rhythmic manner for centuries. Even today the tradition lives though not as actively as Sanskrit mantras in India.  In fact, we have a distinct branch of yoga called Nad Yoga which deals with sound and its healing capacity. Our ragas are basically mantras only. 

Do you chant a mantra? If yes, which one is your favourite? Do tell me.

Chant away to calmness.

So be it !!!