The Power of the Vedas and Mantra: Deepen Spiritual Awakening
The Vedas are considered the source texts of Yoga, which through study, practice, contemplation and understanding help with a more complete yogic development. Shantala Sriramaiah discusses how the study of the Vedas and how properly chanting the ancient mantras support us in deepening our spiritual growth.
Her website is vedastudies.com where she offers a free, introductory, online course in Vedic chanting.
Shantala Sriramaiah is a Vedic chanting teacher, and the founder of VedaStudies.com. She was born and raised in Bangalore, India where she studied Sanskrit and chanting from an early age, as part of her family tradition as well as in school. Much of her inspiration comes from her mother, Saroja, who taught chanting classes in their family home for over 30 years. Shantala aspires to continue her family tradition, using her long background in learning and development. She offers classes internationally online and in Brussels, Belgium where she currently lives with her husband and two children.
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: The discussion with Shantala Sriramaiah, on the Vedas and Vedic mantras was both informative and intriguing. Her explanation of the ancient Vedas as mystical high caliber poetry was clear and succinct. She shared how the ancient Vedas through structure and rhythmic sound provide an absolutely clear vision of The Truth. Shantala shared how Vedic mantras provide a practice based approach to deepen the yoga (Oneness) experience through divinely structured chanting which carries a particular energy. The deep pranayama (breath control) focus of the Vedic mantra leads to pratyahara (interiorization of attention). I plan to access and experience accurately vocalized Vedic mantras on her SoundCloud link. She also has a free introductory Veda chanting course online.
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: Shantala Sriramaiah shared with us how the study of the Vedas can help with a more complete yogic development. I appreciated her description of the benefits of Vedic chanting as increased power of attention and concentration, both of which are so helpful in our meditation practice. I found it fascinating that the rules of Vedic Sanskrit pronunciation and chanting originate in the Vedas themselves, in the Taittiriya Upanishad. Shantala’s description of increased clarity as the benefit of chanting the Gayatri Mantra was helpful, and I can see that this increased clarity can help us in whatever situation we encounter. She chanted the Gayatri mantra so that listeners can hear the difference between Vedic chanting and singing a mantra.