Mantra Chanting
Chanting is a way of getting in touch with yourself. It’s an opening of the heart and letting go of the mind and thoughts. It deepens the channel of grace and it’s a way of being present in the moment.
-Krishna Das-
I exactly remember the day, I fell in love with chanting mantras. Until that day, I didn’t really get why we chant OM or other longer mantras in a yoga class. I didn’t feel comfortable to chant in front of others, with words I don’t even understand. Actually, I was quite happy when that part of the practice was over. I can just guess, but I think this is how many people think and feel when being confronted with a teacher who chant’s mantras in class.
That one day, I joined a class in Bali where it’s quite common to chant together after class. But for that we all got closer together, and the teacher brought up an instrument that I never saw before. She started explaining the meaning of the mantra and started playing and singing. The whole group joined. There I was, sitting in this beautiful Bali yoga shala, joining the chant like nothing else matters. That moment a shiver came over me, I got goose bumps. Something touched my heart, deeply. I fell in love with the words, the melody, about simply being there, present, with others, singing from a place of love.
I left the class deeply touched, full of love, and feeling deeply connected. Connected to myself and something deeper. I had the mantra in my head in repeat mode for the rest of the day.
The next time I joined the class, I asked the teacher what this instrument is she’s playing. She told me it’s a harmonium, an ancient instrument from India. And that when we come together in a group to chant like this, it’s called a Kirtan. This was 5 years ago. I remember thinking that one day I want to learn to play this instrument, and chant in class if ever I will teach yoga.
Well the teaching part came quite quick after this, as I started my first yoga teacher training right afterwards. The playing harmonium thing took a little longer. Step by step. Finally, one and a half years ago, I bought my first harmonium and started to learn how to play and chant. First at home, then in my retreats where I felt a little safer as I had the same group for a couple of days, and then in class. In my last training in India last January I then deepened my skills in playing and holding Kirtans as we had lessons nearly every day and did chant every day for hours.
What is a mantra and why do we chant?
A “Mantra” is a word, phrase or sound that we repeat over and over again. As we repeat we get into a meditative state. We can use mantras to aid concentration in meditation. So it’s a form of meditation a way to connect to our own heart, a way to help clear the mind and create space. A way to create peace in ourselves.
My teachers in India say: Chanting purifies the mind and the heart. As we replace all those repetitive thoughts in our mind, with these divine words.
Lately I found this explanation:
Different sounds have different effects on the human psyche. If a soft sound of wind rustling through leaves soothes our nerves, the musical note of running stream enchants our heart, thunders may cause awe and fear. The sacred utterances or chanting of Sanskrit Mantras provide us with the power to attain our goals and lift ourselves from the ordinary to the higher level of consciousness. They give us the power to cure diseases; ward off evils; gain wealth; acquire supernatural powers; worship a deity for exalted communion and for attaining blissful state and attain liberation.
I like it.
So, here are some of my favourite mantras. It’s actually hard to translate Sanskrit, as only one single word can already have so much meaning and to fully explain the meaning we have to go deep in the teachings of Hinduism to know about the God’s and Goddesses like Hanuman, Rama and Sita… but much more important about these mantras is what do you feel when hearing or singing the mantra. Usually we feel it, whithout even understanding the words perfectly.
Baba Hanuman
Jaya Seeyaa Raama, Jai Jai Hanuman
Jaya Seeyaa Raama, Jai Jai Hanuman
Jaya Seeyaa Raama, Jai Jai Hanuman
Jaya Seeyaa Raama, Jai Jai Hanuman
Repeat: Hare Raama Raama Raama, Seetaa Raama Raama Raama
Translation:
Victory to Sita and Ram, Victory to Hanuman
Victory over the darkness of suffering…
I like and chant the version of Krishna Das. Find it here.
Om Namah Shivaya
- A love song, to ourselves, a love song we sing to our own deepest inner nature. -
Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivaya
Shivaya Namaha, Shivaya Namaha
Shivaya Namaha, Shivaya Namaha
Shambho Shankara Namah Shivaya
Girijaa Shankara Namah Shivaya
Shambho Shankara Namah Shivaya
Girijaa Shankara Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namah Shivaya,
Om Namah Shivaya, Nama Shiva
Translation
I bow to Shiva.
(Shiva is the supreme reality, the inner Self. It is the name given to consciousness that dwells in all. Shiva is the name of your true identity - your true self.)
I like and chant the version of Krishna Das. Find it here.
Svagatam
Svagatam Gurudev, Svagatam Gurudev
Svagatam Gurudev, Svagatam Gurudev,
Svagatam Svagatam Sharanagatam Gurudev
Svagatam Svagatam Sharanagatam Gurudev
Svagatam Sri Ram, Svagatam Sri Ram
Svagatam Sri Ram, Svagatam Sri Ram
Svagatam Svagatam Sharanagatam Sri Ram
Svagatam Svagatam Sharanagatam Sri Ram
Svagatam Krishna, Svagatam Krishna
Svagatam Krishna, Svagatam Krishna
Svagatam Svagatam Sharanagatam Krishna
Translation: Welcome into my life (Guru, Ram, Krishna). I trust you, I give myself to you.
I’ve learned this one in India and haven’t found a recorded version so far.
It’s also nice to notice, to which mantras you are drawn to and with which ones you don’t feel a lot. Even more interesting that this can change from time to time depending on where we are in life.