Swara Practice Tip (Gayatri Mantra: Text...)

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Dear A,

The world indeed has suffered whenever and whereever women have been

treated badly. India can't be said to be free from the same either.

 

But compared to the religions born in west, Vedic thought accepted

Shakti as much as much it did Shiva. That is, both masculine and

feminine energies of the universe were accepted and worshipped and

continue to be, at least on the archetype level. Maybe that

acceptance didn't translate to actual gender acceptance. So we

worship Shakti but not treat the women right.

 

Reality is different and harsher, but at least there's a goal backed

by the tradition, where there are countless examples in the Indian

history where females are respected, admired and given their proper

place in the stream of life. If I am correct, there are places in

kerala where women are the heads of families. Please correct me if I

am wrong. Their names and not the father's name passes down the

generations.

 

A point to ponder over is that that India in its 55 plus years of

free existence has had at least 17 years of rule by a female Prime

Minister.

 

There are countless chief ministers and other positions which

have/are inccreasingly being occupied by women.

USA has been free for more than 200 years. And to my knowledge it

hasn't produced a single female President so far. I also am not aware

of that many women premiers in the most advanced continent on planet,

Europe. One can think of M. Thatcher and some others. Even the native

place of Voltaire and Rosseau, who made the 'pursuit of freedom' a

basic value of the western world, France, also to my knowledge hasn't

had any women premier. We have had women chief ministers even from

the lowest castes. But I don't see any possbility of a African

american or a mexican woman becoming the President of US in the next

20 years.

 

In India rape rates are about one every 60 minutes. In US, the

birthplace of feminism, on the other hand, around 24 women are raped

every hour.

 

But yes, in general Indian women could use a lot more improvement.

Only happy, cheerful, empowered women can create happy kids and happy

families. It takes a great mother to produce and nurture a Shivaji. I

am sure we are heading that way. And we on this forum could play a

role in doing that not only in India, but on the entire planet.

 

Maybe the blessings of divine mother be on us,

Azaad

 

vedic astrology, A L <abhalokhande wrote:

>

> Dear Azad,

> I understand your views on keeping these mabtras a secret. You

were talking about half of your own bretheren exploited or deprived,

can you even begin to think about the atrocities, utter wrong and

injustice against women for thousands of years?

> With all due respect that has not truly improved even a bit even

now in India.

> If you are from there or have spent any time there you must have

noticed how disrespectfully women are trated there.

> I think tradition has taken over common courtesy and basic right

in the name of heritage or whatever and I am surprised that no one

ever even begins to address the wrong that thrives in the society

> I am sure there a great convoluted explanatory story for even that

> A

>

> theblisswithin <azaad wrote:

> respected members,

> I am a novice both in jyotish as well in spiritual practices. But

in

> my humble opinion, light is always better than the darkness. Even a

> inaccurate attempt to go towards the light is better than being in

> the dark ( relatively speaking).

> Some have mentioned the sacredness and the secrecy of the Gayatri

> Mantra. Perhaps there was some reason for its secrecy in earlier

> times. I personally can't think of any other reason than that of

> maintaining a great art and science and the power by one class of

> people for itself and not pass it to others. But history is

history.

> In today's India and today's world we are all better off if more

and

> more people know about it and chant it. Even if this mantra falls

> in 'bad hands', chances are that they might change to 'good'

> eventually.

> Maybe going to the gym and doing the wrong exercises and using the

> inappropriate weights can hurt one's body unless guided by a

trained

> instructor. But I doubt if that analogy extends to Gayatri Mantra.

> At the least , reciting it can't hurt. At the best it will be

highly

> beneficial.

> If robber Ratankar chanted Mara-Mara and became Valmiki by

> inadvertently having chanting Rama-Rama, this mantra is a

mahamantra

> to begin with.

> I have no technical knowledge or expertise as far as vedas and

texts

> go, but on principle the secrecy of it in modern times doesn't make

> sense.

> As respected Guru Rath ji mentioned chanting it in mass and aloud

> might very well alleviate many problems that India faces today.

>

> The founder of Gayatri parivaar Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharyaji

> faced the very same objections raised by the traditional Pandas of

> Mathura. It was alleged that a sacred mantra was somehow violated

by

> being broadcast aloud from rooftops. ( trying to upload a zip file

> of the mantra chanting in his own voice...not working so far).

>

> The current head of Gayatri Parivar is a medical doctor. He had

> conducted some research while working at a hospital. Some patients

> while being given the same medical treatment were also exposed to

> this mantra, others were not. The first group showed faster

> recovery. This was done at BHEL haridwar hospital if I remember

> correctly,many years back.

>

> In the holy land of Aryas, many have been shunned and called a

> Shudra and prevented from this ancient wisdom. Even Shri Rama

> himself had molten copper/lead (?) put in one washerman's (?) ears

> simply because he happened to hear the sound of Vedas. I am sure

> there are learned members who can find reasons for it.

>

> But India, for some of those same reasons has suffered at least a

> material downfall in the last many centuries vis-a-vis many other

> countries. How can a country prosper if more than half of its

> population is shunned, made to feel inferior by its own brethen and

> stopped from chanting this holy mantra ? It shouldn't be surprising

> then, that we fail to win a single gold medal in Olympics. A tiny

> population of us debated whether a mantra should be chanted this

way

> or that way as Moguls raped our women and British looted the

country

> and made it poor. What's the point?

>

> The majority of the nation has been immersed in deep tamas ( I am

in

> that state myself to be honest, but these are just some objective

> opinions), that is born out of hopelessness and inferiority.

Somehow

> anything that a foreigner says make sense and seems superior.

> Given all of this, a basic rendering of the Maha-mantra done with a

> sincere heart will give us the Ojas, Tejas and the Varchas for a

> great wordly life and a better Spiritual life.

>

> This is not to de-emphasize the importance of the niceties,

> subtlelies and the intricacies involved in the deep Mantra Shastra,

> but just a layman attempt to put things in global perspective. As

> confessed earlier, my knowledge of them is close to Zilt.

> These are just some biased, ignorant opinions. I hope I have not

> disrespected anyone. If I did, kindly forgive me.That is not the

> intention.I learn from all the enlightening discussions on this

> forum and am grateful to all the members, administrators and the

> Gurus for contributing to this great body of wisdom free of charge.

> Hearty thanks to everyone for having come together on this

wonderful

> forum.

>

> I just believe that if Indian Cricket team chanted this mahamantra

> together even three times before a crucial match in the world cup,

> chances are they too will have the nerve and the Ojas to hit a last

> ball sixer.

> Thanks Pandit Arjunji for sending the AVGP link. That's where I d/l

> this file from and trying to upload it.

>

> Best Regards and Cheers

> Azaad

>

> PlympicsIn vedic astrology, Neeraj Gupta

> <gupta_neeraj_2000@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Sridhar,

> >

> > I know the words. Actually, there are couple of small

> > variations in Gayatri Mantra.

> >

> > What I chant is

> >

> > Om Bhur Bhuva Svah Tatsavitur-Varenyam Bhargodevsya

> > Dheemahi Dhiyo yoh nah prachodayaat Om

> >

> > { I start with Om and end with Om }

> >

> > The other is without Om in the end:

> >

> > Om Bhur Bhuva Svah Tatsavitur-Varenyam Bhargodevsya

> > Dheemahi Dhiyo yoh nah prachodayaat

> >

> > The one I heard on cassette of Gayatri mantra is:

> >

> > Om Bhur Bhuva Svah Om Tatsavitur-Varenyam Bhargodevsya

> > Dheemahi Dhiyo yoh nah prachodayaat

> >

> > (NOTE: Om Tatsavitur-Varenyam )

> >

> > The one given in Rigveda is:

> >

> > Om Tatsavitur-Varenyam Bhargodevsya Dheemahi Dhiyo yoh

> > nah prachodayaat

> >

> > So I asked Narasimha to kindly let me know the exact

> > text of humming, as in humming, it is bit difficult to

> > make out words especially and hence I requested for

> > the text, so that I can hear to humming again and

> > again (with following the text) and can learn the

> > correct intonation.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> > Neeraj

> >

> >

> >

> > --- sridhar k <kopparsa@> wrote:

> >

> > > The gayatri Mantra is a title song of one of the

> > > Marathi Soaps in India. So one can have the

> > > tune/words by listening to this TV programme in

> > > Marathi

> > > This is just for information.

> > >

> > >

> > > Neeraj Gupta <gupta_neeraj_2000@> wrote:

> > > ~ Om Namo Narayanaya ~

> > >

> > > Dear Narasimha,

> > >

> > > Kindly let me know the exact text of the gayatri

> > > mantra thay you hummed. Asking this, as I generally

> > > start the mantra with OM and end with OM. Also,

> > > some

> > > people chant gayatri mantra with Rigveda i.e.

> > > without

> > > om bhur bhuva svah.

> > >

> > > This will help me in understanding the intonation

> > > to

> > > some extent.

> > >

> > > Regards,

> > >

> > > Neeraj

> > >

> > > --- "Narasimha P.V.R. Rao" <pvr@> wrote:

> > >

> > > > Dear Neeraj,

> > > >

> > > > I am giving my feedback if you are interested. If

> > > > you were not looking for my feedback, kindly skip

> > > > this mail now.

> > > >

> > > > Apart from intonation, your pronunciation is not

> > > > crisp. As for intonation, you are 40% of the way

> > > > there.

> > > >

> > > > In general, there is a problem in pronouncing

> > > > anudaatta swaras (letters with underline in the

> > > > Rigvedic notation). When pronouncing "dheemahi",

> > > you

> > > > added swara that was not there. The "yaat" at the

> > > > end is also not right.

> > > >

> > > > I taught the Gayatri mantra to several people who

> > > > formally received it earlier and forgot. I used

> > > > written text and humming of the intonation to get

> > > > them started. Several of them did worse than you

> > > > when they started, but they can read it almost

> > > > perfectly now. Practice makes one perfect.

> > > >

> > > > * * *

> > > >

> > > > Those who feel the accents (swara) of Vedic

> > > mantras

> > > > are not important and can be ignored may kindly

> > > > ignore what I am going to say. Skip this mail

> > > NOW.

> > > >

> > > > Vedic mantras are unlike other mantras and

> > > shlokas.

> > > > When read perfectly, they are really potent.

> > > >

> > > > If you want to practice swaras of Vedic mantras,

> > > it

> > > > is a good idea to do the following:

> > > >

> > > > (1) Download audio of Narayana Sooktam or Purusha

> > > > Sooktam or Sree Sooktam or Mantrapushpam read by

> > > > Vedic scholars. There are mp3 files with correct

> > > > swara/intonation/accents by Vedic scholars on the

> > > > internet.

> > > >

> > > > For example, you can hear "Sree Sooktam" with

> > > swara

> > > > at

> > > >

> > > > http://www.vedamantram.com/audio/shrImusic.mp3

> > > >

> > > > This is not perfect, but good enough. I remember

> > > > hearing a perfect rendering on the internet

> > > sometime

> > > > back, but can't locate the site now.

> > > >

> > > > (2) Download the text with intonation markings

> > > from

> > > > the internet.

> > > >

> > > > For example, you can view "Sri Sooktam" text with

> > > > swara marked at

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > http://www.srivaishnavam.com/stotras/pancha_suktam_sans2.pdf

> > > >

> > > > (3) Listen carefully and notice how the gentleman

> > > is

> > > > accentuating syllables marked with different

> > > accent

> > > > marks.

> > > >

> > > > If you practice, you can get it right. The

> > > meaning

> > > > of various accent marks is the same in Sri

> > > Sooktam

> > > > and in Gayatri mantram. If you understand one,

> > > you

> > > > understand the other!

> > > >

> > > > Sarvam SreeKrishnaarpanamastu,

> > > > Narasimha

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > -------------------------

> > > > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3):

> > > > http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> > > > Free Jyotish software (Windows):

> > > > http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> > > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website:

> > > > http://www.SriJagannath.org

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > -------------------------

> > > >

> > > > > ~ Om Namo Narayanaya ~

> > > > >

> > > > > Dear Narasimha and other learned members,

> > > > >

> > > > > I have uploaded two voice recordings of Gayatri

> > > > Mantra

> > > > > at the following web site:

> > > > >

> > > > > http://www.neerajgupta.com/gayatri.wav

> > > > > http://www.neerajgupta.com/gayatri-neeraj.wav

> > > > >

> > > > > I request you to kindly let me know my flaws in

> > > > > intonation and proununciation, so that I can

> > > > improve

> > > > > on that and can produce correct gayatri mantra

> > > for

> > > > all

> > > > > the group members.

> > > > >

> > > > > Regards,

> > > > >

> > > > > Neeraj

> > > > >

> > > > > --- "Narasimha P.V.R. Rao" <pvr@> wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > > Dear Srivastava ji,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > 3. I wonder how about millions of

> > > devotee

> > > > of

> > > > > > Gyatri parivar

> > > > > > > and followers of Arya samaj whose whole

> > > life

> > > > > > spent in faith

> > > > > > > prayers and in reciting of Gyatri in form

> > > of

> > > > > > Divine Mother and

> > > > > > > as sun god in later case of Arya samaj.Did

> > > > they

> > > > > > all lost their

> > > > > > > labours and mantra did not work for they

> > > did

> > > > not

> > > > > > chant it as

> > > > > > > per pronunciation advocated now as per

> > > secret

> > > > > > parampara.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > The intonation in the humming mp3 I uploaded

> > > is

> > > > not

> > > > > > from a "secret parampara" as written above.

> > > The

> > > > > > mantra is from the Rigveda and the intonation

> > > is

> > > > > > clearly marked in Rigveda.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > If you get any copy of Rigveda that has the

> > > > > > intonation markings or get "Mantrapushpam"

> > > book

> > > > by

> > > > > > Ramakrishna Mutt (which has a lot of useful

> > > > Vedic

> > > > > > chants with the intonation marked), you

> > > should

> > > > find

> > > > > > the intonation marked (the horizontal lines

> > > > under

> > > > > > letters, the single/double vertical lines

> > > above

> > > > the

> > > > > > letters).

> > > > > >

> > > > > > There are different schools that interpret

> > > the

> > >

> > === message truncated ===

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

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