Kirtan kriya [was: Chanting, silent mantra...]

[Guest guest]

Hello list rs,

One of the meditations I learned in a kundalini meditation class is called

the Kirtan Kriya, or SA-TA-NA-MA Meditation. It is a meditation for

glandular balance and uses mantra, mudra and visualization. The mantra "Sa

Ta Na Ma" is chanted in a progression of aloud, in a whisper, silently,

returning to the whisper, then aloud again.

 

I seem to remember the time for each segment is equal, with the silent time

being twice as long. For example: 2 min. out loud, 2 min. whisper, 4 min.

silent, 2 min. whisper, 2 min. out loud.

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The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan. The Power of the Spoken Word:

 

"It is composed of five primal sounds which are proportional in their

combined vibration to the totality of creation. SA means totality, TA

means life, NA means death, and MA means resurrection. The fifth sound is

the AH sound which is common to these four. It is the creative sound of

the universe.

 

As we chant, the thumbs are touched to each fingertip in rhythm with the

mantra in order to channelize the energy to the brain centers relating to

intuition, patience, vitality, and communication. On the sound of SA touch

the thumb to the first finger, with TA to the second finger, NA to the

third, and MA to the fourth.

 

Chant the mantra in three ways: out loud, in the voice of the human being;

whispering, in the voice of the lover; and in the silence of our own

consciousness, the voice of the Divine. From the depth of our silent

meditation, come back to the whisper and then to the full voice.

Throughout the meditation, each syllable of the mantra should be projected

mentally from the back top of the head, down and then straight out the

third eye point, which is located between the eyebrows at the root of the

nose." [Ori: my teacher described this as an L-shape, allowing the energy

to enter the top of the head (7th chakra) and exit at the 6th chakra.]

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Kundalini Yoga, the flow of eternal power

by Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa

 

"If you enjoy visualizing this is what Yogi Bhajan taught to use with

this mantra:

--Each time you chant "SA," picture all the galaxies, planets, suns, moons,

and stars.

--Each time you chant "TA," visualize tremendous radiance, the brilliant,

dazzling light of a trillion suns.

--Each time you chant "NA," see a winter landscape. The branches of barren

trees standing silent in the snow, all of nature dormant.

--Each time you chant "MA," picture thousands of spring flowers in a burst

of glorious technicolor, brilliant blooms joyfully blanketing the hillside

as far as the eye can see!"

--SA--Totality, TA--Creativity, NA--Destruction, MA--Regeneration.

 

Be sure you as you chant each syllable to press firmly enough so that when

you release the pressure the tip of the finger is briefly white. If you

press too gently, you'll put yourself to sleep."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I always enjoy this meditation. I like how this meditation uses a

combination of mantra, mudra, and visualization as well as sensing the

L-shaped energy to keep my mind busy and occupied trying to coordinate the

whole thing. Personally I've found I reach deeper states when I chant with

a group. I'm not sure why that is.

 

I hope this is of use. It is not so easy to convey some of the finer

aspects in writing. If you have any questions I can try to clarify.

 

Enjoy,

Ori

 

 

ori

http://www.eskimo.com/~ori/ori.html