Do We Need To Chant Mantras ?

Disclaimer: The following article is not written with a motive to teach chanting of mantras. Kindly seek a guru for the process.

INTRODUCTION : 

In the tradition of Sanatana Dharma, Mantras has its own significance and is widely chanted not only during meditation but also incorporated in yoga, Pranayama and while performing yajnas/havana. Today, in the realm of getting influenced by the west, the population that stays true to the practices have become gradually less. Labelling it as mere religious practice or just a fancy thing have exacerbated the whole situation. Although researchers are also convinced about its scientific implications, yet the science behind is not percolated into society today and is still on a long way to go.

        

Pic source : Mantra therapy and it's power

WHAT IS MANTRA ALL ABOUT ?

Mantra is basically an acoustic signal which channelizes the ‘biological system (including plants)’ in the combination of sound, breath and rhythm. The Sanskrit Word "SABDAIKAGUNAMAKASAM" means sound is the only guna (quality) that can occupy the space and it can thus spread to all the four elements (air, fire, earth and water). In the words of Don Campbell,

"Chant is not an obscure musical ritual- it is an important tool used by people to heal their bodies, quiet their minds, and bring the sacred into their lives." 

THE RESEARCH :

1. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH :

An  article from Psychology today explained the research by Andrew  Newberg at Penn, which pointed out that mantra meditation activates areas of the brain such as the thalamus and the hippocampus which is related to sensory perception and to memory function respectively that can help synchronize networks in the  prefrontal cortex and thus improves cognitive performance.

              An elementary study suggested (effect of Vedic chanting on memory and sustained attention) that vedic chanting can increase in the level of attention by activating cells in the brain. Thus, implementation of the Vedic chanting in routine day life style like any other yogic practices and interventions like asanas, pranayama, meditation etc.

Search Results

Web  chanting improves the memory and attention by influencing both the hemispheres

2. THERAPEUTIC USE :

The phenomenal results were from  research gate publications of scientific analysis of mantra-based meditation and it's benefits, which explained that "Many Mantras which end with anuswaram (nasal sound)  MMM humming boosts the production of nitric oxide in the body",  the same chemical that is also produced in playing musical instrument Nadaswaram (Shehnai). This chemical helps 50 trillion cells of our body to communicate with each other by transmitting signals throughout the entire body which include vascular smooth muscular relaxation, resulting in arterial vasodilation and thereby increasing blood flow.

    It is also noted that people with diabetes usually have lower levels of nitric oxide than non-diabetic. Indeed, Opiate drug Morphine, the addictive painkiller, works by an increase in Nitric Oxide release and Nitroglycerin and Amyl Nitrite tablets serve as Vasodilators, because they are converted to nitric oxide in the body, to ease angina pain (chest pain).

           Also, sufficient amounts of nitric oxide in blood controls blood pressure and when the human body reaches the age of 27 years, the secretion of nitric oxide is at its peak and declines gradually thereafter, which makes it very clear why something like chanting becomes important as we age.

The meditation and Coronary Heart Disease, review article explained that how meditation therapy has been used by some doctors in Bombay Hospital in preventing various diseases particularly cardiovascular ailments. "Meditation was shown to be effective in coronary artery disease and various risk factors involved - particularly hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia (increased cholesterol in blood) and diabetes. Number of studies have shown that regular  practice for Mantra Meditation has been useful in reducing blood pressure significantly and lowering cholesterol and blood sugar." The report also declared that it is not clear that how much beneficial meditation is, in compared to 𝛃-blockers, ACE inhibtors (among the major drugs used for coronary heart disease), yet it concluded by creating a scope for future studies so as to establish a non-biased view and utilise it as an therapy.

3. MENTAL ISSUES : (A)

Pic Source : amazon.in

A study by Kumar SaiSailesh et.al in 2016 studied the effectiveness of chanting Vishnu Sahashranama after chanting for just 12 weeks. The test revealed "significant deviation in reduced stress levels were observed after being prone to the consistent listening of this Vedic Chanting." This was assessed using DASS-42 (depression, Anxiety and stress scale) and Serum cortisol test.

Pic source : OM chanting

    There has been various studies made for "OM" chanting. While, a pilot study recorded the neuro hemodynamic correlation of 'OM' chanting indicating limbic deactivation and similar observations recorded with vagus nerve stimulation treatment used in depression and epilepsy. On the other hand,  study on directional brain networks underlying OM chanting showed the 'modulation of brain regions involved in emotion processing and  can be implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD) and raises a potential possibility of the same.'

(B) Dr. Hartzell's research

Dr. James Hartzell performed the research by brain  on 21 professionally trained Pandits with similar controlled subjects to study the Sanksrit effect (if the language has something to do with the significance of chanting), although he could not find an answer for it which required lot of funding, but they discovered that intensive verbal training substantially thickens the right temporal cortex associated with speech prosody and voice identity. The interesting finding was it raised a question of whether an increase in this gray matter of verbal memory could make them less vulnerable to Alzheimer's (a neuro-degenerative disorder associated with loss of memory and other cognitive abilities). The Indian Ayurvedic doctors suggested it to be the case and if so, such a training may help, retard or actually prevent its onset.

Pic source : The Hindu.com/The Sanskrit effect

4. IMPACT ON PLANTS :

Experiments were performed by C.R. KARNICK on 10 medicinal plants charged with mantras, as published in the US National Library of Medicine (pg. 143-146). One of the experiments was that of charging the medicinal plants with 'Mantras' and responses to various ailments. The results were that not only the stems and roots show drastic growth in their size but employing those plants for certain conditions also showed better response. 

It quote, " The results ..showed favorable response, digestion increased and their mental agitation subsided, the blood pressure lowered and sleep induced."

 

They have also performed another experiment, the effect of 'Laksmana' plants on the mental state of females. The result were remarkable. Its findings were :

" The menstrual cycle of the female became regular and the presence of estrogens in the urine was found to be increased. The females were found mentally settled...Later it was observed that it helped in conception issues. "

To summarize, chanting can help us augmenting our memory and cognitive function; from alleviating various illnesses like depression, anxiety, day-to-day stress to chronic debilitating conditions like diabetes, hypertension and several heart diseases. As a matter of fact, chanting  the mantras  by right pronunciations and faith  regularly can help us lead a much better life. 

   

                          

Pic source : images

CONCLUSION :

Chanting is prevalent in almost all communities. Indeed when it comes to chanting what one needs to know is that just chanting 'One, One, One..' for some duration can bring clarity in thoughts but the Vedic mantras have a lot more to do.

                         It is also very clear that chanting is beneficial not just for humans but for all living entities in general. So much so  is the impact that sometimes hearing its recitation can also be of certain importance. It therefore becomes very obvious that people  now dive  deeper into more of it through yoga and meditation rather than confining ourselves to some timid controversies.