But chanting is a direct route to health and wellbeing. It offers us a way to positively affect the energy of vishudda chakra helping us to find our voice and release suppressed emotion. Chanting calms the mind and the emotions. It stabilises the heart rate, reduces blood pressure and produces endorphins, the 'feel good' emotions.
Healing Effects
Chanting cleanses the mind like water cleanses the body. Mostly this is due to the internal vibration of the sound itself: it has been scientifically proven that the vibratory effects of vowel sounds (for example in chanting 'om') makes the bones of the thoracic cage vibrate stimulating all the way down to the alveoli of the lungs and increasing oxygen uptake and gaseous exchange. It also creates a vibratory auto-massage of the internal organs and stimulates the endocrine glands. Coupled with the vocal chord stimulation of the vagus nerve (parasympathetic ) and sympathetic nervous systems - which means that we feel energised yet with an expansive relaxed-ness.
The Door to Eternal Life
Nevertheless not all mantras were created equal. The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is regarded as one of the most potent Sanskrit Mantras. It is addressed to [god] and, along with the Gayatri mantra, it holds the highest place among the many mantras used for contemplation and meditation. 'The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is a potent combination of sounds that, if repeated with faith, dedication and perseverance over a period of time, leads, not only to victory over the fear of death, but eventually to victory over death itself or moksha (liberation). It is therefore known as a ‘moksha mantra’.' It is stimulating and heating (unlike the Gayatri mantra, which is soothing and cooling). It is designed to wards off evil or negative forces by creating a protective psychic shield around the practitioner. It is said to destroy sorrow and poverty, and to fulfil all of one’s desires. Anyone who wishes to remove obstacles in life and overcome difficult situations or illness should repeat this mantra regularly. If chanted a minimum of eleven times, last thing at night, it will ensure a better sleep and more positive dreams.
Chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra with me
click on the 'play' button on the image below to start chanting with me (read the transcript below)
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Om trayambakam yajaamahe
sugandhim pushtivardhanam
Urvaarukamiva bandhanaat
mrityor muksheeya maamritaat.
Meaning/Translation
We meditate on the [god] which nourishes and increases the sweet fullness of life. Like a cucumber from its stem may we be separated ("liberated"), not from immortality but from death.
For more information on the vast system of yoga: http://www.myyoga.org.uk/
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