The combination of light and sound has a great impact on our being in this planet. Think about thunder, light comes first and then the sound strike. Let us follow the same pattern of the nature to make an impact of change in our lives.
Light a lamp, create the external atmosphere, set the intention right and then create an impactful sound with the chant. Lighting the lamp has a great significance in spirituality where we are intending to remove all darkness from our body, mind, and soul.
Secondly, before we chant, the intention of the chanting must be clear, much clearer than the meaning of the words. It is not always necessary to understand the meaning when we chant but to feel the vibrations. How the vibrations of each syllable making an impact of our being.
A few chants with their sankalpa and meaning are discussed below. Practice, Observe and feel the vibrations.
Sankalpa : Removal of the darkness of ignorance and death.
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
Om, (the universal sound) Keep me not in unreal state of being, but make me go towards the Reality of eternal self.
Keep me not in state Darkness (of ignorance), but make me go towards the Light of Spiritual Knowledge and growth,
Keep me not in the World of Mortality (of worldly attachments), but make me go towards the World of Immortality of Self-Realization.
;Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
ॐ सर्वेशां स्वस्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेशां शान्तिर्भवतु ।
सर्वेशां पुर्णंभवतु ।
सर्वेशां मङ्गलंभवतु ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Sankalpa : May there be good health, peace and prosperity for all.
Om Sarveshaam Svastir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Shaantir-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Purnnam-Bhavatu |
Sarveshaam Manggalam-Bhavatu |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
May there be stability and wellness in All,
May there be Peace in All,
May there be Fulfilment in All,
May there be Auspiciousness in All,
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
Sankalpa : May there prevail happiness for the mankind
लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु,
Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu
Meaning May all the people in the world live happily.
Sankalpa : For immunity, power and strength
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Om Try-Ambakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pusstti-Vardhanam
Urvaarukam-Iva Bandhanaan
Mrtyor-Mukssiiya Maa-[A]mrtaat ||
Meaning:
Om, We Worship the Tryambaka (the Three-Eyed One),
who has powerful fragrance, one who enhances nourishment. Make us free from the Bondage of worldly life and may there be liberation from Death (Attachment to Perishable Things).
While we are chanting these mantras, we break our egoistic limits and pray for the well-being of all, which Offcourse includes our own selves. In this age of Kaliyuga, the dark age, we have forgotten one simple rule; how we can one truly be happy if the world around us is full of sadness, rivalry, and jealousy. During the pandemic, we have seen communities maintaining the social distancing yet lighting lamps, chanting, singing from the balconies signifying that we all want to see the communities at large happy, which is our true nature and somewhere we have forgotten that. May the human race come to a realisation and with it bring in an era of love, compassion and friendship.
