CHANTING RULES
CHANTING RULES
Vedachant
Taittirīya Upaniṣat Sīkṣāvalli
Chanting Rules
varṇa
syllable pronunciation w/correct tongue placement
svara
intonation (3 tones) (only Veda texts come with intonation marks)
mātrā
duration (short/long sounds)
balam
force/aspirated sounds
sāma
continuity, evenness, pleasing pace/pitch
santānaḥ
conjunction; grammar rules; Visarga rules, Anusvāra rules, etc.
Śīkṣāṃ vyā̎khyāsyā̱maḥ | varṇa̱ḥ svaraḥ | mātrā̱ balam | sāma̍santā̱naḥ | ityuktaśśīk̎ṣādhyā̱yaḥ ||
These chanting rules come from the Vedas. In the Taittirīya Upaniṣat, the very first lesson starts with a mantra telling how to study the Vedas. The Vedas are studied and directly experienced through chant. They are a sound system. Since these revelations of Truth came through sound, correct pronunciation is of vital importance. The goal is to recite the “Ṛṣi born” Veda mantras in their original form to replicate their sonic revelations. Veda mantras are poetic revelations heard by human sages/visionaries/super yogis during deep states of meditation and are a sacred technology or tool of thought that carry divine power and illumination. We are calling complex cosmic forces/powers and we want to invoke them in the correct way so they will come and collaborate with us and help us grow and evolve psychologically and spiritually!
Vedachant
Taittirīya Upaniṣat Sīkṣāvalli
Chanting Rules
varṇa
syllable pronunciation w/correct tongue placement
svara
intonation (3 tones) (only Veda texts come with intonation marks)
mātrā
duration (short/long sounds)
balam
force/aspirated sounds
sāma
continuity, evenness, pleasing pace/pitch
santānaḥ
conjunction; grammar rules; Visarga rules, Anusvāra rules, etc.
Śīkṣāṃ vyā̎khyāsyā̱maḥ | varṇa̱ḥ svaraḥ | mātrā̱ balam | sāma̍santā̱naḥ | ityuktaśśīk̎ṣādhyā̱yaḥ ||
These chanting rules come from the Vedas. In the Taittirīya Upaniṣat, the very first lesson starts with a mantra telling how to study the Vedas. The Vedas are studied and directly experienced through chant. They are a sound system. Since these revelations of Truth came through sound, correct pronunciation is of vital importance. The goal is to recite the “Ṛṣi born” Veda mantras in their original form to replicate their sonic revelations. Veda mantras are poetic revelations heard by human sages/visionaries/super yogis during deep states of meditation and are a sacred technology or tool of thought that carry divine power and illumination. We are calling complex cosmic forces/powers and we want to invoke them in the correct way so they will come and collaborate with us and help us grow and evolve psychologically and spiritually!
Vedachant
Masterpiece of Oral Heritage
The Vedas were preserved and transmitted through word of mouth from teacher to student for millennia using different recitation styles (Pathas) to ensure their accuracy and to prevent any distortion of the original sounds. This oral tradition placed great emphasis on accurate pronunciation, intonation and rhythm following strict rules of recitation to retain the correct effect in terms of vibrations within the body and in the surroundings too. This oral tradition of the Vedas (Śruti) consists of different lineages or traditions of Veda chanting and these traditions of Vedic chant are considered the oldest unbroken oral tradition in existence. UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of Vedic chant a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2008. In India today there are several distinctive traditions of Vedic chant including: Karṇāṭaka (Mysore), Kanchi (Tamil Nadu), Kerala (Nambudiri) and Maharāṣṭra. Veda Chant is aligned with the chanting tradition associated with the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda, Mysore Sampradāya from Karṇāṭaka, South India and we follow ancient chanting rules following the Taittirīya Prātiśākhya and Kṛṣṇa Yajur Śikṣā texts on phonetics to ensure accurate recitation.
Vedachant
Masterpiece of Oral Heritage
The Vedas were preserved and transmitted through word of mouth from teacher to student for millennia using different recitation styles (Pathas) to ensure their accuracy and to prevent any distortion of the original sounds. This oral tradition placed great emphasis on accurate pronunciation, intonation and rhythm following strict rules of recitation to retain the correct effect in terms of vibrations within the body and in the surroundings too. This oral tradition of the Vedas (Śruti) consists of different lineages or traditions of Veda chanting and these traditions of Vedic chant are considered the oldest unbroken oral tradition in existence. UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of Vedic chant a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2008. In India today there are several distinctive traditions of Vedic chant including: Karṇāṭaka (Mysore), Kanchi (Tamil Nadu), Kerala (Nambudiri) and Maharāṣṭra. Veda Chant is aligned with the chanting tradition associated with the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda, Mysore Sampradāya from Karṇāṭaka, South India and we follow ancient chanting rules following the Taittirīya Prātiśākhya and Kṛṣṇa Yajur Śikṣā texts on phonetics to ensure accurate recitation.