Meditation on Nada Yoga
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
2w ago
In Satsang, my guru, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, used to remind us all to engage the practice of Nada Yoga, to listen and meditate on the inner sound. He advised us first to listen to the inner sound on the right side and then to expand it over to the left. In his Nada Yoga book, he didn’t go so much into the reason for this suggestion; leaving readers and practitioners a bit confused about why they should listen to the inner sound on the right side first.  Many people have contacted me over the years, saying, “I only hear nada on my left side not on the right, what am I to ..read more
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Hail the Goddess: Those Devi Days
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
5M ago
Dashing up the light blue carpeted staircase up and around to the main house temple, my sari sash flowing behind me acting as a kind of makeshift cape. The resounding rhythmic sound of the group chanting bellowing out from the crowded room, out of the temple windows, drew me in. That and of course Guru ji himself. The thing is in those days, it was hard to see where Durga stopped and Guru ji began. They were one. “OM NAMAS CANDIKAYAI SVAHA… OM NAMAS CANDIKAYAI SVAHA … OM NAMAS CANDIKAYAI SVAHA … OM NAMAS CANDIKAYAI SVAHA … OM NAMAS CANDIKAYAI SVAHA … OM NAMAS CANDIKAYAI SVAHA … OM NAMAS C ..read more
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Reflections on Rishi
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
7M ago
Let’s clarify and understand what the word and concept of Rishi means rather than just settling for the gist.  We’ve all heard it said: Rishi means Seer.    But if you leave it at that then the deeper layers of Rishi get lost and are not fully understood.   Rishi is Seer, yes, and what the heck does ‘Seer’ actually mean?  And why is it important to understand ‘Seer’?   The dictionary defines, ‘Seer,’ as a wise being, a sooth-sayer, prophet, sage, spiritualist, oracle and the list goes on…   Seers are beings that see light. But not just any light, they se ..read more
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3 Keys to Great Chanting
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
7M ago
The practice of Sanskrit chanting is so fun and healing that most people dive in immediately and don’t even think about the details involved. It’s natural to immerse and enjoy. And as time goes on when students want to go deeper into the practice, I’m often asked what are the keys to great chanting?   In this guide, I’ll share with you 3 keys to great chanting. Working with these keys, will elevate your chanting practice giving you confidence, ease and joy whether you chant in kirtan or chant traditional Sanskrit mantras or verses.   Key 1 Slow Down First things first, slow down. I o ..read more
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Working With Overwhelm in Practice
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by nirmala
10M ago
Yeah, I’ve had my fair share of overwhelm in life. Haven’t you? Whether it was when I was looking at densely presented yogic shastras, layered Sanskrit grammar or some complexity in a relationship. Finding stillness and letting that overwhelm wash over me, and move out to sea, so to speak, was a skill, not a given. But what does it actually mean to work with overwhelm in practice and in life? Well it’s a few things… In relation to Sanskrit grammar, the practice looks like this: You reminding yourself to re-read the lesson, breathe, stay calm, reason it out. In my training days, I recall a lot ..read more
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Make That Decision, You Got This
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
1y ago
I once had a dear teacher named Dr Sharma ji, say to me, “Manorama, you must make a decision.” He saw I was strugglin’ to decide the best course of action between two things. Wise and dear lovingly Dr ji told me, “Use your wisdom and make the best choice that you see then don’t look back.” His words helped me a lot. So, I sat with all that was on my table at the time and determined the best course of action and let go of the rest. In honor of Dr ji, this week I am sharing this in Skrit-Style, a new idiom add to your yogic lexicon Three ways to use the Sanskrit idiom ‘to decide’ in your life… i ..read more
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6 Essentials Ya Gotta Know About Sanskrit
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
1y ago
Here are 6 Essentials ya gotta know about Sanskrit. These 6 keys I’m sharing with you are so helpful to effectively learn the language. After reading these, go ahead and re-read them again, think about what I put here and work them into your practice. Practicing the alphabet is key For most of us establishing ourselves in the wisdom of yoga needs practice. And by that I mean a lot of practice. Sanskrit, as a yogic discipline is no different. Put frankly, ya gotta put your time in and study the language.The first thing to do is to learn the alphabet. I know at times it can feel overwhelming, w ..read more
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Guides & Living a Remarkable Life
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
1y ago
  After my mom passed, my sister became the keeper of the family photos, drawings and such. Now whenever I visit my sister Jen’s home, I feel like I’m simultaneously stepping back and forward in time. Her home, for me, is a shrine of sorts to our mom. I recognize almost every object there that is connected with her. The armoire that sat in our dinning room, as children, stands near her front door. The one we’d run past a thousand times. The one where sometimes at just the right moment you’d rummage through the bottom drawer and find tiny treasures. Or the small woodcut/painting above Je ..read more
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Devotion in the Bhagavad Gita
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
3y ago
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9 verse 26 OM Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam Yo Me Bhaktyā Prayacchati Tad Aham Bhaktyupahrtam Aśnāmi Prayatātmanah He who offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I receive that devotional offering from one who’s mind is restrained. Devotion in the Bhagavad Gita In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna instructs Arjuna in how to live a yogic life. In the Sanskrit verse above, he tells Arjuna when one makes an offering with sincerity, even when it is something small, like a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, Krishna will receive that devotional offering. What do ..read more
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The Mandukya Upanishad
Sanskrit Studies Blog
by manorama
3y ago
The Mandukya Upanishad is the shortest Upanishad consisting of just 12 verses. This Upanishad is associated with the Atharva Veda and is also considered fifth among the canon of the 108 principle Upanishads. The Mandukya Upanishad focuses on elucidating the topic OM (or AUM) and the three states of, waking, dreaming and deep sleep, as well as, discussing what is referred to as Turīya, the fourth. Verse 1 of the Mandukya Upanishad, translation by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, says, OM Ityetad Aksharam Idam Sarvam Tasyopavyakhyanam Bhutam Bhavad Bhavishyad Iti Sarvam Omkara Eva Yac Canyat  T ..read more
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