Listening to the Unstruck Sound

Why study Sanskrit? Called the “Science of Vibration,” the “Science of Pure Sound,” Sanskrit is said to be capable of elevating the mind, of taking the practitioner beyond the body and mind to their own essence - “the Absolute Godhood in residence.” The purification process felt by chanting has been called the “washing machine of the mind.”

In this four week course the experience of anāhata nādam, “the unstruck sound,” will be explored. The internal musical variations become more discernible through the practice of chanting invocations and mantras, as well as Sanskrit noun and verb endings. The connection between the electromagnetic vibration in the hands with the nādam sound in the ears will be investigated. There will be readings from Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati’s Nāda Yoga booklet and chanting of vedic mantras.

“What benefit can one derive from the Ṛig Veda mantras or other scriptures if one does not know the God who is all pervading, indestructible and most excellent, in whom reside all the cosmic forces as well as the different orbs - the earth, the sun and so forth - and around whom is centered the quintessence of all the Vedas"? But those who not only read the Vedas but also do righteous deeds and practice Yoga, thereby knowing God, they stabilize themselves in Absolute Godhood and attain the highest happiness.”

— Translation of Vedic mantra from Nāda Yoga, by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati (Ramamurti S. Mishra, MD)