[Advaita-l] Question/Clarification on Chanting Vaidika mantras

[Balasubramanian Ramakrishnan]

This is from the pANinIya shikShA and repeated in many other shikShA-s. A
commentary I have read on one of the other shikShA-s (forget which one now,
might be the vyAsa) is perceptive. He says that the artha here refers to
the accents, udAtta, anudAtta, etc., since these are crucial to the
meaning. Understanding the actual meaning is secondary.

In fact, understanding the meanings in Vedic mantra-s is secondary to the
point of almost irrelevance. Correct chanting is paramount.

Rama

On Fri, Oct 27, 2017 at 12:26 PM, Venkatesh Murthy via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Namaste
>
> Giti Sighri Sirahkampi Tatha Likhitapathakah
> Anarthajno lpakanthasca Sadete Pathakadhamah   - From Sage of Kanchi
>
> "Giti" means one who chants a mantra as he likes setting it to tune, as it
> were, like a raga. The Vedas must be recited only in accordance with the
> tones appropriate to them. “Sighri" is one who hurries through a hymn. To
> derive the full benefit from the mantra the right matras must be maintained
> in the chanting. "Sirahkampi" denotes one who keeps shaking his head as he
> chants. Likhitapathaka is one reading from a book. Anarthajna is one not
> knowing meaning of Mantras. Alpakantha is one with inaudible or weak voice.
> These six are defective persons in chanting.
>
> If you see many Purohits today they are saying Mantras without knowing the
> meaning. There may be other defects also. But we call them for functions
> and pay Dakshina also. All this happening because of Kali Yuga influence.
> In this age all religious activities are for filling stomach and making
> money.
>
> On Fri, Oct 27, 2017 at 9:34 PM, Vēdānta Study Group via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > hariH om
> >
> > Namaste All,
> >
> > During ucchAraN of vaidika mantras, is nodding the head or moving eyes
> > up/down as a bodily support advisable to help modulate svaras? Or is one
> > supposed to enunciate the svaras without the assistance of bodily
> > movements? Could someone please clarify, and also, if possible, provide
> the
> > pramANa where these instructions are given?
> >
> > Namaste,
> > Prashant
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>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
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