Chanting of Mantra – The practical aspects

Vedic Mantras are sacred formulae, if chanted in prescribed way and counts, may realise the deity of mantra and bring desired results. Mantras with special syllable energise the specific points of parasympathetic nervous system which have positive health impacts besides harmonising different levels in the body-mind. It has the effect of quieting the mind and integrating the gross bodies with the divine, inducing the latent spiritual experiences (sukshma) into the realm of the patent.(stula).

Word “Mantra” is derived from Sanskrit of “Mananaat Traayate iti mantrah". Mananaat means by chanting; Traayate means protect ourselves. Mantra is the sound-form of the Deity one worships. Mantra requires specific austerities and knowledge of the science of chanting. The present article deals exclusively into Chanting of Mantra.  

Before chanting the Vedic mantras (chants or hymns) it is obligatory to pay one’s respect to the seer (rishi) through whom the mantra was revealed, the deity to whom it is addressed and Chandas - the meter in which the mantra is composed.
 (Note - An article of mantra named as Mantras – a key to Health, Happiness, Peace & Prosperity, is already published in this website, under category “Philosophy. The article covers the various aspects of Mantras viz. what is Mantra, Reciting of Mantras, Impacts of Chanting of Mantras, Science behind Mantras and Hindu Philosophy of Mantras.)
 
Aspects of Mantra

1. Mantra has sound aspect. When the tongue touches the different parts of inside the mouth say, palette or teeth or lips etc., different sounds are produced. Various sound-roots are arranged in groups which are 64. Word-roots are representatives of natural phenomena, their names, and are inseparable from their meanings such as hum for anger, sreem for happiness and auspiciousness, ram for fire, kleem for desire etc.
2. Each mantra has a seer (rishi), metre (chandas) and presiding deity (devata).
3. Samputikarana is a sequence of mantras used for specific purposes combined with specific procedures.
4. Hymn (Sukta) is a collection of mantras on a specific deity (god-form).

 
Science of Chanting Mantra

1. During chanting of mantras, sound energy stimulates various reflex points within mouth which awakens the dormant parts of the brain and its vibrations are distributed into parasympathetic nervous system of whole body through chakras (plexuses) situated in spinal cord.
2. Attitude of reverence towards chanting of mantra is very important. Chanting of mantra, if done diligently and with pure heart and mind brings desired results.
3. Complete devotion, sincerity, regular chanting and adherence to a particular mantra are essential for long term gains and success.
4. Chanting of mantra while in meditation reduces distractions and gradually develops focus in mind.
5. Chanting of different mantras has different impact on human psyche and energy centres. Vedic chants are extremely powerful and will yield positive results only when chanted in the right way.

 
Precautions in Chanting of Mantra

1. Initiation of mantra
2. Pronunciation & elocution of mantra should be as prescribed
3. Chanting to be done in the correct metre
4. Following the rules specific to a particular mantra
5. Do not attempt to alter or change these mantras

 
Initiation of Mantra
It is advantageous to take the mantra from the Guru who has realized that mantra because it can add divine potency into it to bring expeditious benefits. Further, it tells the correct pronunciations of Mnatra.
 
Elocution of Mantra in Japa:
There are 3 forms of Japa:

1. Maanaseeka form - the sound is internal. There is no lip movement and nothing audible. When japa of a mantra is chanted mentally  unconsciously and continuously, even while working or sleeping is called as ajapajapam;
2. Upamshu form - the lip moves but the sound is inaudible; and
3. Vaikhari form - the lip and the tongue move and the sound is clearly audible.

 
Mantra uttered in Upamshu form is hundred times more efficacious than Vaikhari form and in Maanaseeka form its power increases thousand fold.
 
Pronunciation of Mantra in Japa:
Apart from grammar, the accent, intonation, articulation and pronunciation play a vital role in chanting mantras. They are variously defined as - Ucha stayi (high pitch) neecha stayi (low pitch) madhyama stayi (middle pitch) deergha (elongated) hrasva (shortened), gana (repetition back and forth) udatta (high key), anudatta (low key) swara (tone) etc. so that even the letter, let alone the words of the mantras and other sacred literature could not be altered or tampered with at will.
 
Chandas of Mantra
Chandas is the science of metres. Chandas-sutra has been dealt by Pingala (2nd cen. B.C.). Usually each meter consists of one to five pādas or ‘feet’. Each pāda should consist of a specific number of letters. The metre or chanda is very important when chanting mantras. If the metre of the mantra is broken, it loses its impact and will not produce any benefit at all.

Syllables are classified into two categories, Guru and Laghu. A string of Guru-Laghu sequence of a particular length is called a metre. There are various metres in which the Vedic mantras are composed, such as Gayatri, Anusthup, Trishtup and Jagati. The chandas of a mantra determines its usage, such as its purpose and context.
 
For instance, the famous Gāyatri meter consists of three pādas and eight letters per pāda. Gayatri Mantra is recited thus:

Pada 1 - Aum bhur bhu [U] va [/U] h  s [B] va [/B] h
Tat[B]     sa[/B][U]    vi[/U]    tur   va[B]    re**[/B]        n [U] ya[/U] m

Pada 2 - bhar[B]    g[/B] o[U]    de[/U]    v   as[B]    ya[/B]    dhee       ma  hi

Pada 3 - dhi[U]   y[/U]o    yo[B]    na[/B] h  pra[U]    ch[/U] o  da[B] ya**[/B] t.
(Where the bold syllable is in higher octave, 2 stars require additional elongated recital in high octave, underline means lower octave.)
(Note:Separate articles on AUM and Gayatri mantra are already published in this website, under category “Puja System”.)
 
Hence, Chanting of Mantras is complete science and if practised in prescribed way, mantras can be realised.
 
Reference:

1. http://www.hindupedia.com/
2. https://yogaforums.com/t/the-meaning-of-the-gayatri-antra/7500
3. https://www.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/1999-September/010870.html