Sevā - for the benefit of all

We are blessed to have access to these teachings, and we can all play a part in preserving them for future generations. It doesn’t matter whether you learn just a few, or you go on to do a daily mantra practice. The mantras you chant regularly will be alive in you, and you will be able to share them with others from your heart.

To benefit from the positive vibrations:

To benefit from the positive vibrations:

Vedic mantras remind us that we are part of the whole. The teachings they hold aim to put us back in touch with our hearts. By honouring aspects of nature such as the sun, the moon, the elements, and the energy of creation, they foster a sense of awe and wonder. 

You will learn invocations for peace, good health, nourishment, Divine protection, and spiritual support. By finding your authentic voice, and bringing your whole self to the practice, you can send positive vibrations into our world, while nourishing and healing yourself and those around you.

To quieten the mind:

The Sanskrit language is a vibrational language. When we chant the mantras, we experience their vibrations within and around us. Afterwards, we have an opportunity to experience silence in a new way. We are encouraged to keep the mind quiet, and let the meaning of the mantra reveal itself to us through the sounds, the silence, the rhythm and the feelings they generate. Each of us will experience the mantras in a unique way, so this process of learning mantras ‘by heart’ offers us an opportunity to see ourselves more clearly. Eventually, we may study the meanings of the mantras that we have experienced, but if we jump to this intellectual process too soon, we will miss a vital stage of the practice, and forego the opportunity to rest the thinking mind and receive the vibrations on a deeper level.

To develop śraddhā:

In our Vedic chanting textbook, Mantravalli, the following description is offered: ‘Śraddhā, meaning intense faith or conviction, is the cornerstone for success in any endeavour. It enables us to persevere in the face of even the greatest difficulties.’

Quietening the mind creates an opportunity for developing śraddhā, which is a quality of the heart. It is the antidote to fear, anxiety, and mental stress. Several aspects of adhyayanam help to develop śraddhā. The positive vibrations of the mantras work their magic while the relationship between teacher and student deepens. Through this connection they create trust in each other and in themselves. When śraddhā is felt in the heart of the student, it becomes and auspicious support for their ongoing practice, and naturally flows into other aspects of their life.

To have a positive impact on all of your layers:

Sound is carried by space, the most subtle of the five elements of nature. By working directly with sound, you connect to the most subtle layers of your being, the ānandamaya (emotions) and the vijñānamaya (personality). The practice engages the manomaya (mind) through concentration, and benefits the prāṇamaya (breath) because it requires you to breathe deeply, which impacts the annamaya (body) and improves your posture.

To connect to your heart and reduce your suffering:

Kriya yoga is described in chapter two of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as the yoga of action.

‘Tapaḥ svādhyāya īśvarapraṇidhānāni kriyāyogaḥ’ ~ YS II-1

It is a cycle of tapas (action or discipline), svādhyāya (reflection) and īśvarapraṇidhāna (surrender, or letting go). These are the components of adhyayanam. There is no mention of perfectionism. All that is required is sincere effort, honest self reflection, and an attitude of surrender. The benefits are described as follows:

‘Samādhibhāvanārthaḥ kleśa tanūkaraṇārthaśca’ ~ YS II-2

We gain an experience of samādhi (a deep connection to the light in the heart). This positive feeling inspires us to keep practicing. As a result we develop inner strength and the confidence to look at, and gradually reduce, our kleśas (negative patterns of behaviour that cause us to suffer).