What is Vedic Chanting?

Also known as Veda recitation, Vedic Chanting is the precise practice of chanting the original Sanskrit mantras recorded many millennia ago in the original Veda-s.

Unlike the more melodic and free-form practice of modern kirtan singing, Vedic Chanting involves following certain rules of recitation, such as specified intonation, rhythmic meter, and precise pronunciation.

For those of us who feel drawn to the practice, the precision and rigor create a certain magnetism and inspire a sense of peacefulness and ease in the practitioner and the surrounding environment.

What are the Vedas?

The Vedas are a collection of mantras, or highly-refined poetry, that were revealed to the ancient rishis, or skilled practitioners of meditation and self-discipline. In states of deep reflection, these rishis received entire passages of metered verse and recorded them through oral tradition for the benefit of generations to come. 

These mantras offer guidance on living a life in alignment with the divine or the forces of Nature. The original mantras have been gathered into 4 collections, with some repetition of certain mantras, and some commentary and expansions. The Rg Veda is considered the oldest collection, followed by the Sāma Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Atharva Veda. 

Each mantra, or verse, includes not only the words in the ancient language of Sanskrit, but also specific tones or notes for each syllable. There are always 3 possible notes in a Veda mantra: a middle note, a high note, and a low note. The notes are considered an intrinsic part of the verse, helping to hold the resonance and meaning of the verse, just as the words do.

Miraculously, these words and tones have been preserved with precise accuracy over thousands of years by highly-trained practitioners using an intricate error-correcting system involving techniques of repetition such that errors rise to the surface and are expunged.

How does one learn Vedic Chanting?

The practice of Vedic Chanting has been passed down from teacher to student in an unbroken line for thousands of years. Today there are many different traditional lineages, or sampradaya-s, that pass along this wisdom using varying methods and techniques.

In most lineages, however, the teaching technique of call-and-repeat, or adhyayanam, is the backbone of the practice. The teacher recites a line of a mantra, or part of a line, and the student recites it back, making every effort to imitate the exact tone, rhythm and pronunciation of their teacher. The teacher will point out errors and help refine the recitation.