by Shantala | Aug 16, 2020 | Student experiences
When I first started to teach my classes on Zoom, I wasn’t sure how effective it might be and how it would work. Then, these students totally surprised me with what is possible! Even though we have advanced technology to stay in touch, teach and conduct many...
by Shantala | Jun 1, 2020 | Beginners, Yoga Sūtras
The yoga sūtras of Patañjali is one of the seminal works on yoga, especially if we are keen on a structured study of Yoga off the mat! It consists of 196 rather cryptic aphorisms or terse statements, arranged in four chapters. It serves as the most brilliant mnemonic,...
by Shantala | Mar 29, 2020 | Mantra Practice
Earlier this week, a wise friend and student asked me about this mantra which has been doing the rounds on What’sApp. She said perhaps it might be nice to share with our Veda chanting group. I shot this suggestion down immediately saying I had absolutely no time...
by Shantala | Feb 5, 2020 | Mantra Practice
Pic © Dalekyi Denys shutterstock How many of you have tried to meditate? Sit down, close your eyes and try to keep the focus on your breathing, observe your breath, inhalation, exhalation. It sounds amazing, to be able to sit and enjoy the glory of our breath, that...
by Shantala | Jan 16, 2020 | Mantra Practice
Pic © Efimova Anna shutterstock Possibly the most well-known and beloved God of auspicious beginnings, Gaṇapati or Ganeśa is a benevolent force, who when invoked, helps us recognize the subtle (or obvious!) obstacles encountered in our daily lives and also...
by Shantala | Jan 10, 2020 | Mantra Practice
A quick google search shows an overwhelming number of explanations for the significance of the number 108 in the practice of Japa – the mental repetition (or loud for beginners) of mantra as a meditative practice. Some explain that 1 stands for the highest...
by Shantala | Jan 9, 2020 | Yoga in the Vedas
When I first learnt to chant Śraddhā Sūktam, a beautiful hymn from Ṛg Veda, I was mesmerised by its meaning. Some of my regular students accuse me of being mesmerised by every hymn I learn, and this is completely, happily true! In any case, here’s a little excerpt of...
by Shantala | Nov 30, 2019 | Student experiences
This is the story of Kay, a dynamite of a human, who fell in love. Truly deeply madly, in love with Vedic chanting. I’ve known (of) Kay for several years now, thanks mostly to the yoga community of Brussels and social media. But I only met her in...
by Shantala | Nov 12, 2019 | Goddess chanting
In the Indian sacred literature, the texts embodying ‘Sahasranāma’ or literally, the thousand names are an important genre, with the Lalitā Sahasranāma considered as one of the most important (along with the Viṣṇu Sahasranāma). This type of composition is...
by Shantala | Jul 8, 2019 | Beginners
Just a few months ago, at an event, The Ambassador of India to Belgium asked me a very pertinent question. She said, “Tell me, why would one want to take the time to learn, understand and practice Veda recitation. I know it is important, but I’d like to understand...
by Shantala | Apr 16, 2019 | Personal story
I was born in the year 1972, my most significant life event. More importantly, the same year, a wonderful translation of 12 Rig Veda hymns was taking place. Jean Le Mée, extraordinary Engineer and poet, powered by his interest in Sanskrit, completed his Sanskrit...
by Shantala | Feb 6, 2019 | Personal story
All of this, all my work is dedicated to the memory of my mother Saroja Sriramaiah. She was an accomplished classical and devotional singer, taught chanting classes to over a thousand students at home and at 10 different chanting centres in Bangalore, India. 6 years...
