Rei of Light Yoga

24 Crestridge Drive
Caledon, ON
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Mantra & Kirtan

What is a Mantra?

Sanskrit Mantras, or chants, are short phrases filled with energy and intention specifically designed to generate powerful sound waves that promote healing, insight, creativity, and spiritual growth.

"Sound is more than simply a medium of artistic expression.
Sound has practical and powerful applications in the real world." ~ Thomas Ashley-Farrand

Mantras can be repeated aloud or in silence and can be used by people of any religion or spiritual practice.

How Mantras can Healand Move Us Into Meditation

Since ancient Sanskrit lyrics are not familiar to many of us Westerners, these words take us away from the mind's constant chatter a little easier. The powerful healing and transformational energies of these ancient chants can help to reconnect us to the Ever-Present and Eternal Being that lies within us all.

All the mantras, melodies, and instruments of kirtan are designed to lead us toward this meditative state.

Kirtan

Quiet Your Mind, Feel Your Self!
Kirtan (in Sanskrit means "to repeat" and also referred to as call-and-response chanting) helps the mind become quiet, and when the mind quiets, we can begin to perceive the mystical things, the sacred experiences, that are around us always. In the silence between the songs, when the song stops, you can feel something. And that something is you. There is no greater experience than the experience of one's Self. And that vibration is always within you, that vibration is you. That's the beauty of any chant experience-with little or no effort we can experience and enjoy the vibrations of peace, energy, healing and inspiration that are always within us.

A U M (OM)

The most basic mantra is Aum (pronounced OM), also known as the "pranava mantra," the source of all mantras. The primordial sound; the fundamental vibration of all things.

Shanti (Peace) Mantras

Shanti Mantras are also known as "Peace Mantras" or prayers for peace. Shanti Mantras form the part of Upanishads.

Shanti Mantras always end with three words of "Shanti" which means "Peace". The reason behind speaking three times "Shanti" is to cool the surroundings and remove obstacles in three realms namely; "Physical" or Adhi-Bhautika, "Divine" or Adhi-Daivika and "Internal" or Adhyaatmika. These are called "Tapa-Traya" or three classes of troubles. When Shanti Mantras are recited, obstacles from these realms are believed to be pacified. Various Shanti Mantras from different Upanishads are as follows:

From Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Ishavasya Upanishad:

"Om Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornat Poornamudachyate,
Poornasya Poornamaadaya Poornamevavashishyate,
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti"

Meaning: "That is Absolute, This is Absolute, Absolute arises out of Absolute, If Absolute is taken away from Absolute, Absolute remains OM Peace, Peace, Peace".

"Om Asato Maa Sadgamaya,
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya,
Mrityor Maa Amritam Gamaya,
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti"

Meaning: "OM lead me from unreal to real, lead me from darkness to light, lead me from death to immortality OM Peace, Peace, Peace".

From Taittiriya Upanishad:

"Om Shamno Mitra Sham Varunah Shamno Bhavatvaryamaa,
Shamno Indro Brihaspatih Shamno Vishnururukramah,
Namo Brahmane Namaste Vaayo Tvameva Pratyaksham,
Brahmaasi Tvaameva Pratyaksham Brahma Vadishyaami,
Rtam Vadishyaami Satyam Vadishyaami,
Tanmaamavatu Tadvaktaaramavatu Avatu Maam Avatu Vaktaaram,
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti"

Meaning: "OM. May Mitra do good to us, may Varuna do good to us, may Aryama do good to us, may Indra do good to us, may Brihaspati do good to us, and may Vishnu who has vast coverage do good to us. We Salute Lord Brahma and Lord Vayu, the only visible Brahman. We say right, we say truth, may it protect us and may it protect teacher. OM Peace, Peace and Peace"

Om sarveshaam swastir bhavatu
Sarveshaam shantir bhavatu
Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu
Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
Sarve santu niraamayaah
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu
Ma kaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet

Meaning: “Auspiciousness (swasti) be unto all; peace (shanti) be unto all; fullness (poornam) be unto all; prosperity (mangalam) be unto all.
May all be happy! (sukhinah)
May all be free from disabilities! (niraamayaah)
May all look (pashyantu)to the good of others!
May none suffer from sorrow! (duhkha)"

Shanti Path

Gayatri Mantra

for illumination; supreme vehicle for enlightenment

The Gāyatrī Mantra is a highly revered mantra, based on a Vedic Sanskrit verse from a hymn of the Rg Veda (3.62.10)

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi

Diyo Yo Nah Pratchodayat

तत् सवितुर्वरेण्यं ।

भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।

धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

"We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may He enlighten our minds."

~ Translation by Swami Vivekananda

Alternate Translation: "I invoke the Earth Plane, The Astral Plane, The Celestial Plane, The Plane of Spiritual Balance, The Plane of Human Spiritual Knowledge, The Plane of Spiritual Austerities, and The Plane of Ultimate Truth. Oh, great Spiritual Light which is the brilliance of all Divinity, we meditate upon You. Please illumine our minds."

By chanting this mantra, Divine spiritual light and power is infused in each of the seven chakras and connects them to the Spiritual Realms. The last part infuses our minds, hearts and souls with the power of the spiritual light that created the Universe.

Active in the Toronto Kirtan Community? Then you probably know Jim Gelcer.

Jim Gelcer is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed musician and composer. His love of music and yoga led him organically into the world of kirtan, where he is now in demand as a kirtan leader and has just released his first kirtan album, Bhagavan.

Jim artfully combines traditional kirtan with modern influences like jazz and world music into a unique blend unlike anything else you've heard. What happens when you combine a deeply devotional soul with a sophisticated pop music sensibility? At a live kirtan with Jim you may hear mashups of mantras with just about anything from Leonard Cohen to Bob Marley, Bill Withers, or even Black Eyed Peas.

"I personally met Jim and have this CD. It is upbeat with a lot of flavour and maintains spiritual depth of Sanskrit Mantra. Different from any mantra / kirtan cd I have heard but one of the best ones I have heard in a while." ~ Rita

Available at Rei of Light. $20

Healing Mantra

Maha Mritunjaya Mantra ~ Yajurveda (TS 1.8.6.i; VS 3.60)

OM Triambakam Yajamahai

Sugundhi Purshitavardahanam

Urvarukamiva Bandanan

Mrityor Mokshiya Mamritat

OM lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

OM May all beings in the world be peaceful and happy

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24 Crestridge Drive
Caledon, ON
ph: 647.271.0161
info@reioflight.net