Some thoughts on chanting from Geeta S. Iyengar

Given during the 1992 Canadian Intensive

We chant so that at the very beginning that feeling of sanctification comes from inside, with the feeling of surrendering oneself, because nothing can be learned in this world unless you have the humility to learn. So the moment you think of the Lord at the beginning of doing a practice, you know that you are very small in front of that greatest soul. Once that is understood, then the other problems which arise while practicing, mainly concerned with the ego, will be affected. You know that you are “coming down” to learn something. And you can’t learn anything unless you come down; if you think you are on the top and you know everything, then you are not a learner at all. In that sense, the chanting helps.

INVOCATION TO PATANJALI

Yogena cittasya padena vacam
To purify the mind (citta), purify the consciousness, Patanjali gave the science of yoga (yogena) to us. To purify our use of words (pada) and speech (vaca), he gave a commentary on grammar to us, so that our use of words and way of speaking is clarified, distinct, and pure.

Malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena
To remove the impurities (malam) of the body (sarira), he gave us the science of medicine (vaidyakena).

Yopakarottam pravaram muninam
Let me go near the one who has given these things to us

Patanjalim pranjalir anato’smi
Let me bow down my head with my folded hands to Lord Patanjali.

Abahu purusakaram
From the hand up to the head he has the shape (karam) of a human (purusa).

Sankha cakrasi dharinam
In the hand he is holding the conch (sankha) and the disc (cakra).

Sahasra sirasam svetam
On top of his head (sirasam) he has got a thousand (sahasra) hoods of the cobra, because he is the incarnation of Adishesha, the greatest cobra. Svetam means white.

Pranamami patanjalim
I bow down to that Patanjali.