For countless generations in India, this mantra of Ṛṣi Viśvāmitra is being repeated with an unquestioned faith in the sacred character of the origin and certainty of its efficacy. It forms one part of an elaborate daily practice of Hindus called Sandhyāvandanam. 

Join us for a short practice to celebrate the monthly Śivarātri, a time dedicated to the worship of Lord Śiva. I will introduce you to the source of the famous Oṃ namaḥ śivāya mantra. We will then recite this pañcākṣari mantra (namaḥ śivāya) 108 times. I will explain the phonetics of this mantra as passed on to me by my teacher.

Learning the Rudram is a serious commitment and tapas, requiring one to put forward their best effort during the learning process. In this free introduction, students will have an overview and will be able to learn the first few mantras of this magnificent hymn.

Some of the key practices taught at Veda Studies include Japa (repetition of mantra), Pārāyaṇa (one time recitation of longer hymns), Upāsana (practices including saṅkalpa, prāṇāyāma, japa & contemplation). 
- We are always receiving emails from students with questions like:
- How many times should I repeat my mantra? Does it have to be 108?
- How should I prepare for my practice? What are some basic protocols to follow?
- What direction should I face during my practice? ...

Learning the Rudram is a serious commitment and tapas, requiring one to put forward their best effort during the learning process. In this free introduction, students will have an overview and will be able to learn the first few mantras of this magnificent hymn.

Śivarātri is the 14th day of the waning moon fortnight (kṛṣṇa pakṣa), dedicated to prayer and austerities. The planetary positions on this day are considered to create an astrologically beneficial condition for spiritual pursuits. Our mantra practice hold immense potential on this day.

When our practices are aligned with a lineage, we receive clear instructions, allowing a distraction free sādhana to guide our lives. In the Veda, we know of many Ṛṣikā-s (women seers) as well as Brahmavādini-s (women teachers). Women practitioners are sometimes faced with these questions:

Are women allowed to chant Veda?
Women are not allowed to chant the Gāyatrī mantra, what is your advice on this?
What are the instructions for practice during menstruation?...

Join me for this introduction class and learn:

- What is Vedic chanting or more specifically chanting of Veda?
- Importance of learning in a lineage and in the context of tradition.
- The different types of chanting practices and how to distinguish between Vedic and other chanting.
- Illustrations through chanting of yoga sūtras, bhagavad gīta and Veda mantra examples.