Hello,
Namaste and thank you for joining me today for the Sacred Sound journey,
The art
of mantra chanting.
Today we will learn how to chant the Pranava or the Om mantra in four different ways.
We will also learn Nyasam or placing our palms on certain locations on our body to feel the
vibration and strengthen our connection to sound.
When we tap into the energy of the mantra,
We open ourselves to the powerful vibrations
that are the embodiment of the divine.
The effects of chanting on our well-being are deep.
The transformational,
Devotional energy of chanting slows down the thinking mind,
One
feels heightened awareness and a greater ability to rest in the moment and experience.
Our breathing too slows down and deepens.
We feel a powerful sense of oneness with the source and those around us.
In spiritual and Vedic traditions,
Om is considered a primordial sound,
The original vibration
from which the universe emerged.
The Upanishads elaborate and emphasize that by chanting or meditating on Om,
Individuals
can achieve a deeper understanding of their true nature and the underlying reality of
the universe.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali introduces the concept of Om as a symbol representing the
ultimate reality or Eshwara.
The Sutra says Tasya Vachakaha Pranavaha.
The word Pranava itself is derived from Prana meaning life force or breath.
Chanting Om harmonizes one's inner energy and promotes a sense of balance and vitality.
Before we begin to chant,
Let us sit in a comfortable position,
Placing our palms facing
upwards.
The ideal position is when the knees are lower than the hips.
This lengthens the spine,
Opens the chest and allows one to sit for a longer duration.
Hence sitting on a cushion is very helpful.
See that you are sitting in a space that is clutter-free,
Pleasant,
One that inspires
you to meditate.
You can also choose to light a lamp to purify your mind and your surroundings.
The first way of chanting is dividing Om into three parts,
A,
U or MA.
Placing your palms on your lower abdomen and chanting A,
Then placing your palms on your
chest and chanting U,
Finally placing your fingers on the base of your throat region
and chanting MA.
Let us chant all these sounds separately and then put it all together.
Notice where you feel the reverberations.
A
U
MA
A
U
MA
A
U
A
The second way of chanting Omkar is through the Brahmari way of chanting.
One can do the Shanmukhi Mudra or simply close your ears with your fingers.
Now emphasize and elongate the M part of the mantra until it sounds like the buzzing of a bee.
OM
OM
OM
The third way to chant the Omkar is in a continuous loop.
Take a deep breath and then chant.
One can also do this with arm movements.
As you inhale,
Take your arms up parallel above your head.
Now chant Omkar in a loop and bring your palms back on your knees as you finish.
OM
OM
OM
The fourth way of chanting is the harmonic chanting of Om.
Chanting Om with different pitches and tones.
You can also explore the natural resonance of your voice and feel the vibrations at various frequencies.
OM
OM
OM
Do all of the above practices slowly,
Exploring,
Taking your time to discover which one resonates the most with you.
Sit for a few minutes quietly after you finish the practice.
I hope you have enjoyed this chanting with me.
I look forward to hearing back from all of you.
Take care and be well.
