“Āsana for the body, prāṇāyāma for the mind, chanting for the soul.” TKV Desikachar.
Vedic chant Adhyayanam (recitation) has always been central to yoga. When we begin to understand this experientially, it can become a deeply meditative and transformative experience. Historically speaking, chanting is closer to the roots of yoga than modern postural yoga practice alone.
In the West Vedic chanting has become largely disconnected from modern yoga practice. Contemporary yoga culture focuses mainly around physical postures and flow movement. Vedic chanting for many can feel culturally unfamiliar and awkward. Even within academia, Western scholarly research was fashionably focused on āsanas and postural yoga. Aside from the very recent University of Vienna Mantrams Project, less emphasis has been placed on exploring the efficacy and nature of meditations on vocalised sound in yogic practices (perhaps with the obvious exception of OṂ or AUṂ). Yogic soundscapes, specifically Sanskrit sound and Vedic chanting, arguably, offer a rich ground to be explored in further depth.
The introduction of yoga to the West was dominated by physical posture-based ‘fitness’ practice. In many ways, our cultural experiences of collective recitation are limited to predominantly sports events, think football stadiums, vocal choirs, music concerts. We all know how it feels to be singing in a crowd at your favourite bands concert, certainly there can be a collective sense of euphoria, goose bumps and heightened emotion.
Some work needs to go into reframing perceptions that chanting is strange, inaccessible and religious. It must be respectfully acknowledged that this practice emerged from a very sacred tradition, however participation does not necessarily mean that you have to adopt a Vedic belief system. There are many health and healing chants, peace chants and elemental chants, for instance, in honour of the sun, moon.
Precision and Focus
The ancient tradition of Vedic chanting differs from short mantra recitation. Vedic chanting must be precise for the entirety of the text that is being chanted, by way of example chanting the whole Taittirīya or Kaṭha Upaniṣat. The focus held in the ability to do this is markedly different to repetition of short mantras. That is not to diminish the efficacy and power of mantra recitation, rather, to acknowledge there is a difference.
A small but meaningful step towards understanding the precision of Sanskrit sound could be by learning the correct pronunciation of Oṃ: Oṃ as in ‘home’ and not Oṃ as in ‘bomb’. Even a single syllable of Sanskrit sound carries a nuance, resonance and intentionality.
It is perhaps here that Vedic chanting can begin to reveal a deeper meditative value. Meditation practice is essentially a unique personal experience. However, I do not think I am alone in struggling with the instruction often given to ‘observe thoughts like passing clouds’. I have often questioned quite what I am supposed to be achieving with this method, the mind itself may never truly become empty. Instead, meditation practice may require a direct object of focus, a level of concentration akin to Dhāraṇā, then, gradually mental distraction settles beautifully and dissolves. The yoga tool we have to facilitate this mind state is without doubt Sanskrit sound by way of Vedic chanting.
For many finding our ‘voice’ in this practice can be incredibly difficult and awkward, but cultivating a sense of ‘sound exploration’ over ‘performance’ could be key in alleviating these feelings. I would, for instance, absolutely never voluntarily participate in karaoke, (I truly can’t sing). But I can find my voice to lead a chant in front of a group or for a listening meditation (Śrāvanam Dhyānam) motivated by a need to pass on this wonderful tool.
The benefits
The benefits are significant: lengthening of the breath to facilitate deeper diaphragmatic breathing habits and encourage breath awareness. Engaging the precise phonetic structure of the Sanskrit language means exploring new and different vocal articulations: guttural, palatal, retroflex, dental and labial sounds. Recitation also creates an internal resonance capable of influencing our nervous system, either calming or energising, depending on the nature and sound qualities of the chant. Over time the practice evokes a sense of stillness and inner peace. Learning these new sounds and the art of precise recitation enhances patience and improves the memory. Not to mention the known benefits of learning a new language which has associated cognitive benefits.
Human Connection
Vedic chanting was never intended as an isolated practice, but as a living oral tradition sustained through collective listening and recitation. Of course, it is thanks to this and the traditions strict precision that we have access today to the teachings of the ancient Vedic texts.
Collective chanting naturally creates greater volume and resonance. Allowing vibrations to be more widely experienced. Creating a more immersive meditative experience, this shared sound field can heighten sensory awareness. Collective sound can give a sense of human connection, (much needed in today’s world where chat is online texting), a unified attention where vocal rhythms harmonise and align.
From here a practice can advance from outwardly vocalised sound towards the subtler inner sound recitation or Nāda yoga. Adhyayanam gradually becomes internalised and evolves into a deeply embodied and transformative meditation practice.
