Sanskrit and pronunciation

[Guest guest]

When a child is learning to walk does its mother scold him or her?

When a child is learning to talk does its mother scold him or her? It

is the same for us when we are learning to read Sanskrit. Our mother

is not going to scold us if we do not pronounce the mantras correctly

at first. The most important thing is the sincerity within us. We

must continue to cultivate the inspiration which is the seed for us

wanting to learn to chant in the first place.

First is the Goddess of inspiration(Sailaputri). We begin to

study(Brahmacaarini) and practice (Candraghante). Now comes the time

for refinement(Kushmaanda). Now we seek to refine our practice by

trying to pronounce the mantras correctly and perhaps more slowly or

whatever it takes. Each will refine his or her practice in the best

way for them. Next comes the Goddess who Nurtures Divinity

(Skandamaatha). Our seed of inspiration is beginning to grow like a

plant or tree. After this comes the Goddess who is Ever Pure

(Kaatyaayani). All of our thoughts are becoming purified through our

practice. Then comes the Goddess of the Dark Night of Surrendering

Egotism (Kaalaraatri.). We surrender our ego and become one with the

Goddess of the Great Radiant Light(Mahaagauri). The last Goddess we

worship is the Grantor of Perfection (Siddidatri). Lots of ripe fruit

on the tree by now.

These are the 9 Durgas who remove all difficulties and are

prevalent in most learning endeavors we undertake. Just think from a

little inspiration to chant some mantras how our love can grow if we

continue to nourish that love as outlined above until we dissolve

into the bliss of consciousness.

[Guest guest]

I read somewhere that mispronunciation of Mantras can have adverse

effects and cause the chanter harm. I have always been afraid to

chant any mantra except Aum Sri Ganeshaya namah for this reason. I

love Ganesha with all my heart so its not a problem. but there are

Mantras I would love to use to fix certain problems in my life and I

haven't because Im afraid something bad will happen to me.

 

Aum Shanti

 

Aaron parvati_saraswati <parvati_saraswati > wrote:

When a child is learning to walk does its mother scold him or her?

When a child is learning to talk does its mother scold him or her? It

is the same for us when we are learning to read Sanskrit. Our mother

is not going to scold us if we do not pronounce the mantras correctly

at first. The most important thing is the sincerity within us. We must

continue to cultivate the inspiration which is the seed for us wanting

to learn to chant in the first place. First is the Goddess of

inspiration(Sailaputri). We begin to study(Brahmacaarini) and

practice (Candraghante). Now comes the time for

refinement(Kushmaanda). Now we seek to refine our practice by trying

to pronounce the mantras correctly and perhaps more slowly or

whatever it takes. Each will refine his or her practice in the best

way for them. Next

comes the Goddess who Nurtures Divinity(Skandamaatha). Our seed of

inspiration is beginning to grow like a plant or tree. After this

comes the Goddess who is Ever Pure(Kaatyaayani). All of our thoughts

are becoming purified through our practice. Then comes the Goddess of

the Dark Night of Surrendering Egotism (Kaalaraatri.). We surrender

our ego and become one with the Goddess of the Great Radiant

Light(Mahaagauri). The last Goddess we worship is the Grantor of

Perfection (Siddidatri). Lots of ripe fruit on the tree by now.

These are the 9 Durgas who remove all difficulties and are prevalent

in most learning endeavors we undertake. Just think from a little

inspiration to chant some mantras how our love can grow if we

continue to nourish that love as outlined above until we dissolve

into the bliss of consciousness.

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[Guest guest]

Namaste Aaron,

I hope you don't mind me jumping in on this. I fully expected someone

to answer you by now, but then this issue has come up before

(probably before you joined the cyber-satsang).

 

This isssue is controversial. I've read and heard both opinions: that

correct pronunciation of Sanskrit mantras are critical to their

efficacy and incorrect pronunciation can do harm; and the other side

that says, if the intent is sincere, correct pronunciation is not so

critical. Any attempt is worthwhile.

 

My direct experience is that correct pronunciation is NOT critical.

I've been chanting Sanskrit mantras for years and have had some very

interesting (to me) experiences from them. Mantras work even though

the pronunciation and understanding is imperfect (as mine is).

 

My experience supports what Swami Satyananda has stated: the

pronunciation of Sanskrit varies even within India. I have noticed

that the pronunciation of certain Sanskrit words varies according to

the source: Shree Maa and Sri Karunamayi pronounce certain words

differently. Just the other day while listening to a Indian recording

of the "Sri Suktam", I noticed the Hindu chanters were pronouncing

certain words differently from Sri Karunamayi.

 

I also believe that seekers are "under guidance" and being actively

protected by spiritual guides (with or without physical bodies).

I feel very strongly that I'm under benign/beneficent guidance, even

though I'm not entirely sure "who" is guiding.

 

Bottomline: Go for it!

 

Astraea

 

, Skud Thirteen <skud_13>

wrote:

> Namaste,

> I read somewhere that mispronunciation of Mantras can have adverse

effects and cause the chanter harm. I have always been afraid to

chant any mantra except Aum Sri Ganeshaya namah for this reason. I

love Ganesha with all my heart so its not a problem. but there are

Mantras I would love to use to fix certain problems in my life and I

haven't because Im afraid something bad will happen to me.

>

> Aum Shanti

>

> Aaron

>

> parvati_saraswati <parvati_saraswati> wrote:

> When a child is learning to walk does its mother scold him or

her?

> When a child is learning to talk does its mother scold him or her?

It

> is the same for us when we are learning to read Sanskrit. Our

mother

> is not going to scold us if we do not pronounce the mantras

correctly

> at first. The most important thing is the sincerity within us. We

> must continue to cultivate the inspiration which is the seed for us

> wanting to learn to chant in the first place.

> First is the Goddess of inspiration(Sailaputri). We begin to

> study(Brahmacaarini) and practice (Candraghante). Now comes the

time

> for refinement(Kushmaanda). Now we seek to refine our practice by

> trying to pronounce the mantras correctly and perhaps more slowly

or

> whatever it takes. Each will refine his or her practice in the best

> way for them. Next comes the Goddess who Nurtures Divinity

> (Skandamaatha). Our seed of inspiration is beginning to grow like a

> plant or tree. After this comes the Goddess who is Ever Pure

> (Kaatyaayani). All of our thoughts are becoming purified through

our

> practice. Then comes the Goddess of the Dark Night of Surrendering

> Egotism (Kaalaraatri.). We surrender our ego and become one with

the

> Goddess of the Great Radiant Light(Mahaagauri). The last Goddess we

> worship is the Grantor of Perfection (Siddidatri). Lots of ripe

fruit

> on the tree by now.

> These are the 9 Durgas who remove all difficulties and are

> prevalent in most learning endeavors we undertake. Just think from

a

> little inspiration to chant some mantras how our love can grow if

we

> continue to nourish that love as outlined above until we dissolve

> into the bliss of consciousness.

>

Sponsor

>

>

>

>

>

> Terms of

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>

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[Guest guest]

I have heard the two sides too and I agree with both sides:) It's

like learning an opera which was my forte for quite some time. You

can learn it right or wrong or perform it right but sloppily. You

are learning the language correctly, but are you the tones? The

meter? The rhythm?

My boyfriend learned vedic mantra's from boyhood from the scriptures

by his Guru. He had to learn them exactly the way the scripture was

written otherwise his Guru would not continue. He also had to

memorize. In teaching me the vedic mantra's he wont teach me any

further than what I can do perfectly. In his puja class, if the

students are scrambling he will dedicate one class practically to

doing it over and over like the Sri Suktam. He firmly believes that

the tone, meter and rhythm are to be exact otherwise you will pull in

'other' energies. Now, with that said and being from an operatic

background, I like being exact. If I learn a chant that is not

correct it scratches the inside of me so I stop. It's like nails on

a chalkboard and I can intuitively know it's not right. However when

it comes to other mantra's, I have chanted wrong and still had awesome

results. Om Namah Sivaya I used to repeat,

"Om NamaHA Sivaya" and when I still chant it 'wrong' I still feel

good:) It seems to be more potent for me to pronounce it wrong. But

when it comes to vedic or chants that I know have a meter and rythm or

rhyme I stop because once you learn a song wrong, it's stuck that way

and takes even more energy to correct it. These mantra's get

embedded in our subconscious so if there is a rhyme or rhythm that is

correct, I will ask my boyfriend to help me. It's amazing for me to

hear one person chanting and then hear my boyfriend do the same

verse. It's like learning to tap dance vs. really dancing.

Like Swami Satyananda said, in the beginning the mother doesn't scold

you, but when you come across the scripturally correct way and you

begin to refine, then She is giving you more and then I see it as a

'sign'. There were times when my opera teacher was lenient and then

there were times she punched me in the stomach to make sure I was

supporting my sound with correct breath control. At any time should

could have punched me and I was ready for it. A punch wont hurt if

you are supporting the sound with your diaphram. Anyway, there is

always a beginning and its fruition, so if the correct pronunciation

doesn't come your way, then it's not supposed to, you may not need

it. If you can get a confortable groove, then do that. It's like

installing a diety, your own devotion and repitition can install it

over time. No need for pranapratishta. Same with mantra, as long as

you have devotion, the 'other' energies wont be hangin

around unless they want what you have:) Then you have to shout, "Phut

Phut! I will chant for you, but YOU STAY OVER THERE!" If Ma provides

'correct proninciation' then take heed and learn it with focus. If

she doesn't provide that you may not need it at all. You may already

be endowed with devotion in a whole different manner. Devotion is

natures own Phut Phut.

Jai Maa!

Kellyastraea2003 <astraea2003 > wrote:

Namaste Aaron,I hope you don't mind me jumping in on this. I fully

expected someone to answer you by now, but then this issue has come

up before (probably before you joined the cyber-satsang).This isssue

is controversial. I've read and heard both opinions: that correct

pronunciation of Sanskrit mantras are critical to their efficacy and

incorrect pronunciation can do harm; and the other side that says, if

the intent is sincere, correct pronunciation is not so critical. Any

attempt is worthwhile.My direct experience is that correct

pronunciation is NOT critical. I've been chanting Sanskrit mantras

for years and have had some very interesting (to me) experiences from

them. Mantras work even though the pronunciation and understanding is

imperfect (as mine is).My experience supports what Swami Satyananda

has stated: the

pronunciation of Sanskrit varies even within India. I have noticed

that the pronunciation of certain Sanskrit words varies according to

the source: Shree Maa and Sri Karunamayi pronounce certain words

differently. Just the other day while listening to a Indian recording

of the "Sri Suktam", I noticed the Hindu chanters were pronouncing

certain words differently from Sri Karunamayi.I also believe that

seekers are "under guidance" and being actively protected by

spiritual guides (with or without physical bodies).I feel very

strongly that I'm under benign/beneficent guidance, even though I'm

not entirely sure "who" is guiding.Bottomline: Go for it! Astraea---

In , Skud Thirteen <skud_13> wrote:>

Namaste,> I read somewhere that mispronunciation of Mantras can have

adverse effects and cause the chanter harm. I have always been afraid

to chant any mantra

except Aum Sri Ganeshaya namah for this reason. I love Ganesha with

all my heart so its not a problem. but there are Mantras I would love

to use to fix certain problems in my life and I haven't because Im

afraid something bad will happen to me. > > Aum Shanti> > Aaron >

> parvati_saraswati <parvati_saraswati> wrote:> When a child

is learning to walk does its mother scold him or her? > When a child

is learning to talk does its mother scold him or her? It > is the

same for us when we are learning to read Sanskrit. Our mother > is

not going to scold us if we do not pronounce the mantras correctly >

at first. The most important thing is the sincerity within us. We >

must continue to cultivate the inspiration which is the seed for us >

wanting to learn to chant in the first place. >

First is the Goddess of inspiration(Sailaputri). We begin to >

study(Brahmacaarini) and practice (Candraghante). Now comes the time

> for refinement(Kushmaanda). Now we seek to refine our practice by >

trying to pronounce the mantras correctly and perhaps more slowly or >

whatever it takes. Each will refine his or her practice in the best >

way for them. Next comes the Goddess who Nurtures Divinity>

(Skandamaatha). Our seed of inspiration is beginning to grow like a >

plant or tree. After this comes the Goddess who is Ever Pure>

(Kaatyaayani). All of our thoughts are becoming purified through our

> practice. Then comes the Goddess of the Dark Night of Surrendering

> Egotism (Kaalaraatri.). We surrender our ego and become one with

the > Goddess of the Great Radiant Light(Mahaagauri). The last

Goddess we > worship is the Grantor of Perfection (Siddidatri). Lots

of ripe fruit

> on the tree by now.> These are the 9 Durgas who remove all

difficulties and are > prevalent in most learning endeavors we

undertake. Just think from a > little inspiration to chant some

mantras how our love can grow if we > continue to nourish that love

as outlined above until we dissolve > into the bliss of

consciousness.> > > > > > > > Sponsor> To

from this group, send an email to:>

> > > > Your use of

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