Yogzilla » Vedic Chant

Shanti Mantra

Sraddhā — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:52:11 +0000

My īśvara

Sraddhā — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:17:37 +0000

Here’s one man who has impressed me so much. Nobody knows who he was or much details about him. His work is compiled under a pseudonym. His work on Yoga is what I consider the best and many others do. When there is a such brilliant piece of work written by someone, the natural tendency for people many centuries ago was to associate this person with some divine powers. Hence Patañjali was known as reincarnation of Adisesa, the serpent used by Vishnu during meditation. Adisesa provides sthiram and sukham. Vishnu also has Garuda the eagle to take him anywhere he wants. The serpent and the eagle are such opposite forces, but they coexist here for Vishnu. The reasoning why Adisesa was chosen for Vishnu’s support for meditation was that Adisesa was associated with a mature personality who has gone through a lot in life. Adisesa is also supporting the Earth on his head and taking care of Vishnu, who has an important job to perform as the Preserver of the Universe. Vishnu needs a strong support and wisdom as a guide in Adisesa. A lot of stories are symbolic in Hinduism. Kausthub Desikachar writes Patañjali Unplugged, an interesting article on Patañjali .

Yoga Sutra says Īśvara is the teacher of teachers. Īśvara is a fine object of meditation and how important it is for this object to be flawless. When you constantly meditate on something, it simply has to be perfect. For one imbibes the qualities of the object of meditation. I have searched long and hard to have a guru. But, Patañjali will be my guru and Īśvara. Human beings don’t cut it for me. Here’s the prayer to Patañjali as taught by KYM.

Gurubyoh Namaḥ

Sraddhā — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:20:21 +0000

This is a Vedic Chant to honor our teacher Sri Krishnamacharya, who opened the doors of Vedic Chanting to everyone. This post is for my classmate from KYM. This chant may not make sense to the rest of my regular readers of 0.0142, including Borat from Kazhakistan.

Sarve Shaam Svastir Bhavatu

Sraddhā — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:45:36 +0000

Another variation of the same Shanti Mantra, set to a different tune.

Guru Purnima

Sraddhā — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:18:08 +0000

Guru Purnima is a day to honor Veda Vyasa, who was born on this day. Veda Vyasa is a guru for Hindus for having compiled the Vedas, written Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita and others. This day is considered the best to progress and evolve in the spiritual path with your guru. Of course, one must have a guru for that.

I was eagerly looking for a guru, teacher, guide last year. Then I just abandoned it even though I like the concept of having a teacher. It was getting quite complex to find someone in that role. Most of the texts that I read say that one will find a guru, when the student is ready. May be, I am still not ready. In Sanskrit, the word anatha is used to describe someone without a teacher. In common usage, anatha means orphan. Although KYM has been a guiding force, still it is an institute and not a human being. Books will continue to be my guru. The more I read, there is so much more to read and understand out there. Funny, how that works.

At any rate, I read this chant (poem?) to honor the guru by Adi Sankaracarya and got addicted to it. I learnt it myself, without a guru or teacher : ) It is an easy vedic chant in the book Mantra Mala from KYM.

Guruvastakam, composed by Adi Sankara, the great yogi and philosopher is a tribute to the teacher. According to this chant, whatever success we may have, whatever wisdom we may claim to possess, whatever discipline we may follow, it is worth nothing if we fail to acknowledge and honor our teacher. On the other hand, if a student is totally devoted to his or her teacher, then no force including god can harm the student in any way.

One’s vesture may be superb, one’s consort likewise, one’s reputation resplendent and renowned, and one’s riches like unto Mount Meru; but if one’s mind be not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

Here’s the complete meaning of the chant.

Here’s another beautiful chant, Sri Guru Paduka Strotram. It is not a vedic chant and is set to music.

Guru Purnima is a day to honor Veda Vyasa, who was born on this day. Veda Vyasa is a guru for

Hindus for having compiled the Vedas,written Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita and others. This day is

considered the best to progress and evolve in the spiritual path with your guru. Of course, one

must have have a guru for that.

Saha navavatu

Sraddhā — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:20:05 +0000

In the Vedic times, Saha navavatu was chanted by both teachers and students before starting the class. As the students and the teacher live together in the gurukul , this chant is essential and it asks that there not be any problems during the learning, so there is no break or misunderstanding.

Om saha nAVavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha VIryam karavAvahai |

tejasvinAvadhitamastu | mA vidvishAvahai |

Om shanthishanthishanthihi ||

I read the meaning of this chant in various books on Taittiriya Upansihad.

saha nAVavatu – Let us be protected
saha nau bhunaktu – Let us be nourished by the blessings
saha VIryam karavAvahai – Let us join our mental forces in strength for the benefit of humanity
tejasvinAvadhitamastu – Let our efforts at learning be luminous, have a strong force of purpose and filled with joy
mA vidvishAvahai – Let us never be poisoned with the seeds of hatred or ego