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KAUAI, HAWAII, December 24, 2006: An issue came up at the Hindu Mission of Canada in Quebec regarding the chanting of the famed Gayatri Mantra by the ordinary devotees. Some brahmins held the position that the mantra should be chanted by everyone only when a priest is leading the chant. The chairman of the mission, Dharam Pal Verman, asked Hinduism Today to research the issue.
We, in turn, asked our Delhi correspondent, Rajiv Malik, to consult with experts in India. He reported the following points:
1. The chanting of Gayatri Mantra collectively in large groups is something very common place in the temples and Arya Samajas all over India. It takes place everyday. No one ever objects to non-brahmins joining the priests and other brahmins in this chanting of the Gayatri Mantra.
2. In an earlier interview with Hinduism Today, the Shankaracharya of Puri said that mantras need to be chanted by common people in an extremely careful manner so that they do not get harmed by the high level of energy generated in the process of chanting them.
3. In consultation with Swami Pragyanand of Delhi, who is a big promoter of Gayatri Mantra, Swami said:
a. “Gayatri mantra is for everybody. Why I say this is because every mantra has a devata and in the case of Gayatri Mantra, the devata or God is the Sun God. Now the Sun God is for every creature in this world. therefore gayatri is also for everybody in this world. Gayatri is also known as mother and again mother is for everyone and therefore Gayatri is for every child of God. Anything which is created by God is for everybody, whereas if a man creates something it may be used for the benefit of some people only.
b. “In Bhagavad Gita lord Krishna said that among mantras I am myself the Gayatri Mantra. So how can anybody be deprived of chanting the Gayatri Mantra?
c. “The essence of Gayatri Mantra is that God may grant wisdom to all. Now wisdom is not a monopoly of any one person, state, religion or sect. Therefore as wisdom is for everybody, Gayatri Mantra is also for everybody.
d. “When I went to Surinam in South America for the first time, in some of the temples they did not allow chanting of Gayatri Mantra. But when I explained the meaning and essence of Gayatri Mantra to the people there, they got convinced and the things changed. Today, a few radio stations have a round-the-clock recitation of Gayatri Mantra.”
e. Asked about the point of view of the Puri Shankaracharya, Swami said that as the Shankaracharya was of orthodox views therefore he held this kind of opinion on this matter. In an earlier case, the Puri Shankaracharya objected to women chanting the Vedas. Others who wish to comment on this issue may e-mail ar@hindu.org.
disclaimer: am a hindu by birth and donot want to argue regarding who can and not chant !
But the statement “mantras need to be chanted by common people in an extremely careful manner so that they do not get harmed by the high level of energy generated in the process of chanting them” should be considered carefully
It is similar to handling fire i.e., like letting a child near/inside fire when the child doesnot understand/realise/sense the power of fire !
it may be true that mantras are for common man and no restrictions should be there. but some mantras consists of ‘beejaksharams’ which needs to be not only clearly and appropriately spelled but also with neat and freshly after taking bath. otherwise it may give unwanted problems due to energy generated by chanting of mantra. for example, a few years before i wanted to chant ‘namakam’ and’chamakam’ and started to chant them. on the 3rd day while chanting i realised that soon on starting this my daughter started to suffer from illness and it was increasing day by day in spite of taking all medical care and rest. i was afraid a little that there could be some shortcoming and mistake in my chanting and stopped after completing on the 3rd day. 4th day my daughter suddenly recovered and left for her college very actively. since then i am careful. if at all i feel it compulsory to chant mantra on large scale i started to do it in a temple which proved to be less ‘risky’.
still i have got a doubt, ‘dattatreya swamy’ is very strict god in neatness and cleanliness of devotees whom he will bestow with wonderful result. but ’shirdi sai baba’ who is proved to be none except the same ‘dattatreya swamy’ is so liberal and allowed without restrictions-why? whether god is also changing time to time. only people of knowledge to clarify-?
What are the manthras and how many types of manthras are there.
Mananena thraayathe iti mantra = by repeated chanting the one which
protects you is known as manthra. When a manthra is chanted in
rhythmic tone/sound with its ups and downs, create a melodious
musical effect in the brain/ body . This effect can be defined as the
neurolinguistic effect. Remember the neurolinguistic effect can be
derived even if you do not know the meaning of the manthra. Hence one
need not understand the meaning of every manthra. But for prayers it
is compulsory. But at the same time if you know the meaning of a
manthra, it has got an additional effect/advantage which is known as
Neurolinguistic (NLE)+ Psycholinguistic effect (PLE). Many people
are doing research and indepth studies on this subject and
important results derived out of that. One of the famous professors Dr. T.
Temple Tutler, of the Cleveland University, USA has given great
contributions on the understanding and application of these effects which
are remarkable. Remember the NLE and PLE effects are due to the
production and spreading of curative chemicals in the brain. These
curative chemicals give smoothening and curing effect in the body.
Thus manthra chanting is not a superstition/ or merely religious
ritual . It can also be directly called as music therapy or manthra
therapy in modern words. Listening to manthras directly lowers blood
pressure, normalizes heart beating rate, brain wave pattern, adrenalin
level and even cholesterol level. That is the reason why modern
doctors advise the people under high tension ‘to sit and listen to
music or manthras’ for few minutes. This has become an accepted
procedure just like the yoga and pranayaama practices. Even
chanting the keerthans, melodious bhajans, songs, etc have the good effect
almost similar to the NLE and PLE. However there should a
melodious pattern for that . The music/ song/manthra should never be hard/
harsh/rough/ etc. The speed also should have a smoothening effect for
example even Gayatri manthra chanting should be done at the range of
4 – 8 numbers per minute, Om Namo Narayanaaya at 38 -62 and Om
Namassivaaya at 42 – 68 range per minute.
Chanting the manthras everyday is excellent and important at a
particular time. In physics the time, space and observer are the
three important factors. Exactly like that the time, space and
the person connected with chanting/listening manthras are three
important factors for deriving benefit of manthras. Hence sareera suddhi,
ahaara suddhi, mana suddhi, vaak suddhi and karma suddhi are
essential for deriving the full benefit of chanting the manthra. Also the
place where you are sitting should give calming effect, comfortable
feeling etc. The ideal timings are the prabhata sandhya and saayam
sandhya. Morning and evening. Group chanting is excellent.
Absolutely no mistake is expected in Vedic mantra chanting. When you are sick,
or old age, you need not worry too much about the incapability of
chanting the manthras. Manthras are chanted for solving our problems and
for positive effects. Manthra chanting/ not chanting should not become
another problem for us. The ideal sound for manthra chanting can be
maintained, if possible at radius 7 meters from the person who chants
it. Veda manthras chanting is not easy so t is advised not to chant
without learning them through the guidance from a guru.
There are four types of mantras. The Vedic
mantras, the puranic mantras, the itihaasic mantras and karma mantras.
Veda mantras have ten types of sruthees/swaras/tones known as
udaattha, anudaattha, swaritha, repha, hraswa, pracheya, anunaasikaa,
kampa, deergha kampa, plutha. Those who are interested in learning Vedas
should learn all these swaras in younger age itself. If so it is
easy otherwise it becomes difficult. Chanting Veda mantra means
chanting with sruthi. According to the opinions of some scholars sruthi of
Vedas is more important than its meaning. At least the sruthi and
meaning are equally important. Hence even without knowing the meaning one
can chant/listen to the Vedas for getting the Neurolinguistic
effects. If the meaning and the sruthi are known then Neurolinguistic and
Psycholinguistic effects are derived for mental/ physical and
spiritual merits (like normalization of brain waves , heart beat, blood
pressure, cholesterol level, and the level of adrenalin in the blood – due
to the formation of curative hormones/chemicals in the brain . This is
something similar to music therapy. Even the meaning of the manthra
shall change if not properly chanted. Hence it is generally advised that
anyone should not chant Veda mantra carelessly, but can listen (
sruthi) for getting the positive effects. Like in physics three
parameters are important the place ( space) of chanting the manthra, the
time (physics also time) and the person who chants manthra (in physics
it is the observer) One need not be a Brahmin for learning Vedas.
There are many scholars in Kerala, who are not Brahmins by birth but
have attained even a higher level than Brahmins, who are chanting the
Veda mantras. There are thousands of ladies in Karnataka who chant
Veda mantras perfectly and also some of them perform Yaagas by
themselves. It takes years together for anyone to learn the Vedas and
rigorous customs and rituals (rules) are to be followed during the
learning period. However in modern days the rigidity/ strictness has come
down These strict rules and codes are implemented to see that Vedic
chanting method should not go to those who are not very serious.
Generally the Veda mantras are chanted in each and every steps of the
Yaagaas. But in poojas/ archanas and prayers only few lines/sookthas of
vedas are chanted. But all the mantras chanted in poojas and also
in temple rituals are not Veda mantras. Majority of them are puraana
mantras and karma mantras . Purusha sookatha, Sreesuktha, Bhaagya
sooktha, Rudra, Chamaka, Navagraha sooktha, Gayatri manthra, Mruthyunjaya
manthra, etc are few among thousands of the veda mantras.
Purana mantras are those mantras which are present in one or more of
the eighteen mahapuranaas or upapuraanaas. They can generally be
chanted by anyone including ladies independent of caste and religion (
even though opinion varies) with sareera sudhi, aahara sudhi, manasuddhi,
vaak suddhi and karma suddhi. In these mantras. Generally there
are no rigid sruthies and rules for chanting the puraana mantras. One
can opt for their own ragas. The rules for learning the purana mantras
are not rigid, but one should have clear voice/sound and devotion and
sincerity . Purana mantras can be chanted for poojas or as evening
and morning prayers. Sometimes even as a time pass ( instead of
wasting time by thinking useless matters ) one can chant these mantras.
Lalitha sahasra naama, devi maahathmya, siva sahasranaama, ganesa
sthothras, etc. are few among many purana mantras. If you want to chant
purana mantras; just go ahead ! . Do not ask to many people or so
called Pandits. They may give the answer that you should not chant
manthra.
Remember that Manthra (mananena thraayathe iti manthra) Chanting is
for getting good feeling. By not chanting the manthra nothing is
going to happen. Not chanting a manthra due to ill health/ old
age/travel/asuddhi/out of station/ etc should not become a problem for worry .
Dear All,
Mantra Chanting is not to be done socially. Mantras have ten sanskaras like Janan, taran, uddipan,gopan and so on. So if one wishes to derive advantage out of a mantra (or anything in life) he must respect the concerned rules of chanting. Chanting i.e Japa of mantras is done as part of some sadhana. What is done socially is recitation i.e Paath. Obeying of rules gives you energy (Pls give a try). Violating rules is fashion of the day, but they don’t give you anything if they don’t harm you. So if you are entitled to sit in the chair of Prime Minister, you will be glorified in doing so, but if you stealthily enter his personal chamber and sit on his chair you will be subject at least of disrepute (if not of penal law). So if you are not entitled to a mantra dont blame the rules, rather take recourse to appropriate sadhana and obtain entitlement. Vishvamitra was a born Kshatriya and he is the rishi of not entire Gayatri mantra rather of the richa part. Important powers of Gayatri mantra lie in the three vyahritis that precede the tatsaviturvarenyam…. part. It is only when both parts are combined that it becomes gayatri mantra otherwise it is just another richa of Vedas. Physical body of every varna has minute differences and that is why everybody is not allowed to chant every mantra. Even ladies are forbidden from chanting gayatri mantra. But we should consider this case from objective angles and not out of resentment. Ladies have been drashtas of vedic mantras as one may find some mantras in Yajurveda attributed to Kashipu the daughter of Bhardwaj but doing veda patha requires some state of purity of body and mind besides other factors. Women by their very nature get impure for some period every month and remain under its influence for quite some thime thereafter. Further their nature clashes with the properties of certain mantras. Lopamudra was practitioner of Shri Vidya which is allowed to women. Its secret that shri vidya is calculatively three times more effective that Gayatri. Our aim in life is to achieve Moksha and not chanting mantras. So whatever are the rules according to Varna and ashram of an individual he must follow them and do so sadhana also.
Cheers
Oh, I forgot to add that the Gayatri in the Vedas is said to bestow spendour and brilliance. Only positive benefits were found to be written on the Vedas, and not as to its restrictions. Gayatri bestows light (as it is in line with Agni). Agni means flame, and thus Gayatri awakens the flame of wisdom in one. So, everyone is entitled to chant the Gayatri. Since Hindus believe that one’s aim is to ACHIEVE MOKSHA, that means everyone is entitled to achieve it.
An example that can be brought into this is the ‘modern Christians’ belief. They believe that if one is NOT baptist, one will go to hell. Once, I questioned them, “Do you all agree that God is the Father and everyone His children?” They answered affirmatively.
Thus, in reply to them, I said, “Then why would God segregate as to who can go to hell and who can go to heaven based on their religion since according to your belief, God is One, and He is the sole Father to all, that He created everything and everyone in it?”
So similarly here, why would the Lord intend the creation of this mantra to be reserved for just a portion of people, to enable them to attain liberation, and still paradoxically calls out to everyone to strive to be One with God Himself?
I agree to whatever you all are saying.. but i want to listen vedic chant, suktam …what all as bachelor I can hear and what is the appropriate time. how can i know about this? please let me know at sachin_dh@yahoo.com
Thanks
Are u chanting mantra & is it allowing you to look at u or others?
If its allowing you to look at ur inner thoughts,Ur disadvantags r being shown out to u during that time.
I have given up , by not able to stop controlling my thoughts by looking at my disadvantages & it almost few months now after which I would like ot start chanting about gayathri again,But still cannot control my thoughts.
suggestions to concentrate on objects while chanting is reqd?
Thanks
Pradeep
I do not understand why there is so much controversy abt this issue. Why should women and others who are not entitled to upanayana feel that they are marginalized? Look..in the jewish religion too, among the 12 tribes of the israelis, only one tribe, the tribe of levi, can perform the role of priest. The other tribes accept it without resentment. When women and others can attain grace by reading mahabharatha and chanting the substitute for gayatri mantra as below:
yo deva savithaasmaagam diyodharmadi kosarahaa, praerayetu tas yatparka tatvarenya mupaasmahe
why they cant just accept the tradition? As for the so-called women sages of veda-you must understand that eons ago, in satya yuga, women were at the same level as men. they too learned the gayatri mantra. there was no exclusion. However as the yajur veda itself recounts, Indra passed a third of his sin of brahminicide to women, which resulted in menstruation. We can definitely infer that since sandhyavandanam, which is to be performed everyday without exception, cannot be performed by women in their periods, they cannot chant the vedas too.
This is because sandhyavandana is the basic prerequisite for veda learning. I request all the women (who chant veda mantrams) who r reading this, to think twice over. Do u want to see yourself burning in the fires of hell after death and suffer the scorn of God for violating the sanctity of the vedas. If u really want to chant vedas, then pray for kalki to come and start the satya yuga (the golden age) again. In that age, you can have the right to chant. Please wait till then.. May God grant you women true wisdom..In the name of equality, do not suffer the consequences of sin…
VINAASA KAALE VIPARITA BUDDHI-ADI SANKARA BHAGAVADPADA
I am still confused……I am a 25yrs old women and i chant gayatri mantra everyday while walking, riding bus, while i am just sitting and when i dont have to do anything i always chant gayatri mantra. Am i doing it wrong? Please suggest.
Thanks
Publina
If anybody wants to chant the Gayatri, go ahead. There is no gender/religion/caste bar. But do it with sincerity and devotion. None would be punished for sincerity and devotion. If so, life would cease to exist and the purpose of the Gayatri would be defeated.
All the rules and regulations were laid by mortals like us and could be amended as times change. Be rational in what you choose. For example the caste system could have been laid just to keep people involved in all walks of life such as worship, trade, administration and trivial/manual jobs. Because we always try to choose the best job when given an oppurtunity. Imagine the situation in olden days – less population but more oppurtunities. Times have changed and so have people.
Hi,
Chanting of mantras is a way to purify or cleanse ourselves and the negative thought or worry that is occupying our mind.
If you go chanting of the mantra, and concentrate its rythm and meaning along, you will see that your mind, body and spirit becomes lighter and the way we perceive the world and surrounding is different. Chant a mantra that is comfortable for you or rather to put in other words, chant any mantra that can sooth or cleanse you. By cleansing ourselves, we cleanse our surroundings and the Mother Earth overall.
Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides. Let there be peace everywhere
asthoma sat gamaye
thamosa jyothir gamaya…..
look this is a matter of intect.who just wants to enjoy instant moksha can go for anyhow,but for reaping the real desireable & ultimate effect the nice decorum should be maintained
Namskaram,
In the Bhagavat Geetha lord Krishna Himself proclaims that he is Gayathri, i do not think Lord krishna would classify between the two sexes. Moreover there are subjective information about women reciting Gayathri that if younger girls recite this manthra daily 108 times this would cause some discomfert during child birth, again this is subjective as manthras can be recided in many ways you can recite them without chanting it aloud and the problem is solved.
As i have understood after having conversation with many gentlemen, I personally feel that Gayatri mantra should not be chanted by ladies and other people unless properly guided. as gayatri mantra produces lot of energy and chanting of this mantra may produce energy which may not be helpful to ladies. ladies are equivalent to men. here we are not debating of ladies and gents, but it is my humble request to learned people that mantra produces tremendous energy and it depends upon people to people whether they can adjust to that energy or not. AS a surgeon can only do operation apart from on ordinary mbbs doctor,because he has to go that training which makes him perfect to do operation. This spiritual science which is far more advanced from our physical science so proper care has to be taken to understand this great -great science which is much more advanced to all sciences. Women should take all the aspects into consideration before chanting this mantra, Vedas are not ordinary things .There are lot of hidden meanings and lot of energy hidden in it.
every body has the right to attain the god whether he is of any cast.
GOD has many forms. I do understand the feeling of women and other caste people who were suppresed by many people but some aspect relating to the vedas as to be taken into consideration . I apologies to people who have hurt by my personal feeling on this great mantra . I may be wrong on this subject also but still i share my feeling which i felt.
Initially its important to know ones true identity, according to his/her levels of understanding of science and reality. We have to break free from the social circle and live life on our own opinions. every individual needs to enjoy life with a job and family. the purpose of all existence is to enjoy the desires of nature with proper understanding and having a great sex life with the respective life partner is important. Anyone can chant any Mantra leaving the rules and regulations a side, becuase at the end of the day we chant to gain our benefit, material or spiritual. Proudly say that i am not a language, a country, a race , a caste , i am a human being surviving in a competitive enviroment. I love myself.
There are many, many Mantra-s in the puranic lore and in the great poems and plays of masters like Kaalidaasa, Bhaasa, etc. All of them can become potent Mantras with healing power and redemptive abilities of various kinds (removing addiction, etc.) if one is sincere and full of true faith. And all of them are open to everyone.
The non-puranic Mantra-s are, in my thinking, for those who are orally initiated in the prescribed way through the Grace of a true Guru or relatives who has received oral initiation themselves.
I live in the west and people bring me (as I read a little bit of Sanskrit) mantras from Naigamika as well as Aagamika sources and I politely direct them to just the name of a divinity or a shloka that can be easily recited auch as
Gajaananam Bhoota Ganaadi Sevitam
Kapittha jamboo phala saara bhakshitam
Umasutam Duhkkha Vinaasha Kaaranam
Namaami Vighneshwara Paada Pankajam.
And also, I dont understand why anyone needs tons of Mantra-s while one in itself has infinite potential. My dear departed father used only “Rama” “Rama” recited with devotion and inner and outer purity. My grandmother only used “Shambho Mahaadeva Paahi Maam Paahi Maam” and derived immene benefits and blesings from it.
dear sir
i have heard that women cannot recite gayatri and also they cannot even listen to it.. is it true?
my friend said people who have lust and desire should not chant gayatri mantra. is it right? he asks me to chant hare krishna hare rama mahamantra.
I find it very irritating that people use two arguments over and over again:
1. Ashutoshji said that all prohibitions on chanting of Gayatri were made by humans and that sincerity in prayer is the only necessity. Your statement that God would tolerate everything as long as it is sincere seems to be founded by mortals too-MORTALS LIKE YOU ASHUTOSHJI. Sincerity is not the only factor in worship. Obedience to rules also count. The Hunter who sincerely offered meat to Lord Shiva was only blessed because he was ignorant. If a Priest who knows the rules did the same offence, Lord Shiva would have probably burnt him. D.K.M. Kartha stated wonderfully that we do not need many mantras to attain spiritual advancement.
2-”In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that he is Gayatri among mantras.”
So?? In the same chapter, he also famously says that he is the gambler among gamblers. Does this mean we should all gamble?? Remember that the entire mahabharatha revolves around the sin of gambling. This use of faulty and weak logic disgusts me.
IN SUM, FOLLOW THE RULES. DO WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU. YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT TO ALTER TRADITIONS. YOU ARE NOT AN AUTHORITY FOR YOURSELF. HUMBLY ACCEPT THE COMMANDS OF VEDAS AND TRADITIONS. HINDUISM IS BEING DESTROYED TODAY BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO INFUSE WESTERN IDEAS OF EGALITARIANISM INTO IT. NOBODY WANTS TO OBEY RULES. HOW DISGUSTING? MAY GOD SHOW YOU THE WAY HE SHOWED ME. THE TRUE WAY IS THE ORTHODOX WAY.
SORRY, ASADHOSJI NOT ASHUTOSHJI
Who the hell do we Hindus think we are ? Are we all great Gurus to change traditions enjoined to us by Rishis ? Such attempts to degrade Hindu Rituals should be resisted strongly.
Mantras are for the benefit of humanity. Then why should there be rrestrictions as to whom and when to be recited. If the mantras are intended to be kept secret, why they were revealed out. There is no point in arguing that only certain persons alone should recite a mantra. It is only cheating or on the otherhand it is only selfishness.Let us take an example if a teacher doesn’t teach students the lessons intendd for the First standard then how can the children get enlightened and how they will go to the next higher standaed. In such a way the mantras are for the uplift of human community and either if it is forbidden to anyone or if it is not taught the very purpose of mantra is itself defeated. So mantras have to be revealed to everybody and the benefit should serve the people, otherwise it is only foolishness or selfishness to create rrestrictions as to its use and recital. A car is devised not to keep it idle but people should be permitted to ride on it otherwise the very purpose of devising a car is itself defeated. Therefore mantras are for entire humanity and not only for certain sects.To know and understand this one should not search vedhas, puranas etc it is simple logic.Some mantras are for doing harm for others, I completely endorse this view. In that case those mantras are to be taught for eligible persons only. The teacher or guru should take a stand that these harmful mantras are to be taught to persons who are capable of controlling their feelings and they are well deserved to be taught so that no harm will be caused to anybody unless and otherwise these harmful mantras to be utilised.
I think not to chant Gayatri is pure speculation created by us. Clearly Lord Krishna says in Bhagvad Gita that among all mantras I am gayatri…..Show me one scripture directly spoken by GOD prohibits us from chanting any Mantra….or Mantra chanting is sinfull????…WHAT CAN REALLY GO WRONG IN CHANTING GODS NAME??? Use your intelligence in what seems right…
Please tell them that the person who explained Vedas to man kind
namely Veda Vyas is not a brahmin but he is from a fishermans family