Guest guest Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Hello everyone! I would like to ask if anyone knows or is doing something about translating Sanskrit prayers into English. I am a British-Hindu born in England so I think I would benefit from Hindu prayers in English. When I had my thread ceremony in India, I did not understand the Hindu prayers I had to do, which were in Sanskrit, prayers in English and for example the gayatri mantra would be very beneficial in English for me and many other British born Hindus. I think Hindu people are not taking up Hindu teachings because they don't understand them. We are very fortunate that books by Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna are available in English, even Hindu marriage ceremonies I believe should be read in English for British-Hindus so that we understand and know what are vows are. Please let me know what you think? Regards, Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 Hi Neil, I understand your concern, and what you said is true. I myself am a Hindu in the US, and have gone through the same situation. The only difference is that I was born and raised in India. And had my thread ceremony when I was 14. Not many priests explain the meaning of the prayers in sanskrit like you said. But I think there are a lot of books you can find which explain the meaning of all the mantra's, Will look out and let you know.But for now, here is the meaning of Gayathri manthra GAYATHRI MAHA MANTHRA OOM BHUR BHUVAS SUVAHA TATH SAVITHUR VARENIYAM BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI DHIYO YO NA : PRACHODAYATH Meaning : We meditate on that adorable light of the divine Supreme who should rouse our intellects and lead us the right path. And One more thing Neil, the main thing in any manthra is the Verbal Vibrations, which is very Important. So Try to practice the Mantra's in its original form and chant them. Keep in touch and will send you more stuff. God Bless you and yo Family. Hari Om! Regards Ashwin. --- Neil Mukherjee <lakegreen2 wrote: > Hello everyone! > I would like to ask if anyone knows or is doing > something about > translating Sanskrit prayers into English. I am a > British-Hindu born > in England so I think I would benefit from Hindu > prayers in English. > When I had my thread ceremony in India, I did not > understand the Hindu > prayers I had to do, which were in Sanskrit, prayers > in English and > for example the gayatri mantra would be very > beneficial in English for > me and many other British born Hindus. I think > Hindu people are not > taking up Hindu teachings because they don't > understand them. We > are very fortunate that books by Swami Vivekananda > and Sri Ramakrishna > are available in English, even Hindu marriage > ceremonies I believe > should be read in English for British-Hindus so that > we understand and > know what are vows are. > Please let me know what you think? > Regards, Neil. > > > > > Mail for Mobile Take Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile./learn/mail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2005 Report Share Posted August 6, 2005 Dear Neil, All these prayers including Gayatri is available in English, but the translated versions only give you a flavour of the actual "Mantras"! Transliteration of Vedic Mantras are available but finding actual word of each and every sanskrit "sloka" is very difficult to find. You will find regional variations within India of all those translated vedic verses. Ramakrishna Mission at Mylapore, Madras has many books. So has Belur Math. I suggest you visit Belur Math book store and meet the officiating staff. They will help you pick up the right books. Sivananda Ashram at Rishikesh has many books and articles on various topics concerning Hindu philosophy. Find it out from the search engine Google about Sivananda Ashram,Rishikesh and then browse through their site. Then there is Jogananda Ashram in the USA, who have many articles. Then the Himalayan Academy. The field is vast. Ramakrishna Mission, London should endeavour to maintain a site on the internet too, I feel, for the younger generation here. I feel that we need an english educated "Sankaracharya" or some such talent to bring excellent transliteration on the vast subject of Hindu philosophy. Dr S Radhakrishnan's books on Hindu philosophy will be good reading material for you. Thank you. Hope this is of some help! Asis Bagchi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Dear Neil, It is heartening to see a young person like u taking interest in religious literature. I would suggest an excellent book on Hinduism 101. It is written by Swami Bhaskarananda, Swami incharge of the Vedanta Society of Western Washington. The book is entitled: " The Essentials of Hinduism " and provides a comprehensive overview of the World's oldest religion. The Ramakrishna movement has resulted in translating most of Sanskrit texts in English. Thanks to Swami Vivekanandaji and other monks of the Ramakrishna Order, most of holy books can be read in English. You may visit the web sites such as www.vedanta.com to get an idea or please visit any center of the Ramakrishna order. Mohan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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