Oct 06 , 2021 - Wedesday
Shri Gurubhyo Namaha , Harih OM 🙏
Welcome everyone to our third class of Ganesha Atharva Shreesha
As communicated, Recording of Atharvashreesha which is part of Atharvanaveda /Ganapati Upanishad will be sent by Guruji . Please keep practicing twice a week. Those who have not sent recording which is discussed on Sep 29. Please do so in the following days. This is just to check where we are in terms of learning, hence unicast Guruji with your recording. Please do not send it here in the group.
Question by Sneha - Pls talk about Chandassu in Mantras
Chandassu meaning it is niyama ( descipline ) to chant Mnatras in a particular way making sure we chant as per the grammer that only Guruji knows. Ex : AlpapraaNa , Mahapraana of each Akshara ( letters of Sanskrit ) should not get hurt when prononced in a cluster ( vaakya ) ensuring grammer is maintained and pronounciation of each akshara properly. It has to match Guruji's recording be it Akshara, Shruti, Swara , Raaga and the style of chanting to keep it consistant with the manner in which mantras are taught. There are many Chandassu for ex : Gayathri Chandassu has 24 aksharas , Same way we have Trishtup Chandassu with 28 aksharas , Anushtup chandassu consisting of 32 Akhsaras. There are many more chandasu as well . This is good enough example. When children are learning, Guruji likes it because of multiple reasons. 1. Their mind is more clear ( Do not have worldly problem in their head - Samsaara Tapatreya we call in Kannada ) 2. Mistakes are less when they chant 3. It matches everything what chandassu as a subject talks about. It is so clear from four of Guruji's students in our class reason is purely their grasping power to absorb the line and repeat in such a clear manner. Make no mistake, We are all here as a student to learn hence please do not mind as many of us as adults did not learn on time when we were 7 yrs old like earlier Gurukula system. We starting chasing Maccalay Education System ( not to blame , I am just quoting to bring the awareness of earlier Gurukula System to identify ourselves with the cosmos rather than identifying with a particular subject expert . Today during DeepavaLi, you can see highly learned scholars chant mantras in white house for many years - This is called Global Identity /Identification with entire cosmos).
We can draw analogy for chandassu here. Just imagine you have a jar full of diamonds which is scattered all over living room . It has value but it is not organized , does not look good at all. Try to collect everything and take a string(thread) to put them together. It becomes maala which you can wear on neck or hands or on Shirassu . Each diamond now looks very clean and it looks great and feels great for that person. Isn't it ? Chandassu in Mantras are exactly like that, we are bringing aksharas together a string and we learn to chant it as per upadesha (guidance and advice ) of Guruji. This is chanted for Prakruti /or for a nirguna niraakra paramathma. When it is learnt to practice and chanted perfectly Guruji likes it. Most importantly, we feel more good about ourselves trying to get to perfection in our journey of life. Automatically, Brahma tejas will start glowing on the face. Mind becomes calmer and wordly issues do not bother us so to speak. In this regard, Guruji selected few senior students ( meaning young students with tremendous grasping power and pronounciation skills ( Sarasvati putras ) to train with special mantras to make them ready for future. They are in for much advance trainings as we go along. Many mantras cannot be taught to the students of USA, reason is they have to live in those Gurukula atmosphere , have to have daily experience in those environment . Just see how cat holds kitten in its teeth and carry its baby. We get to see this in India . Kitten won't cry , neither it gets hurt. Who taught cat to hold its baby in such a fashion and run? That is an art which comes from birth. Many things are from birth especially grasping power. Chandassu will ensure that mantras are handled in a most perfect manner as per the upadesha of Guru. This is the reason they say Manatras should not be learnt without a Guru. All corrections, grammer and chandassu is a part of chanting process. Highly learned Guruji like Somayaji can easily find out where is the mistake, what is the mistake in our chanting. Hence if you are serious please do practice the recording. Good question Sneha Prasad. Pls continue to ask questions everyone. Please do not hesitate. Whatever doubts we all have . I know for the fact that Guruji has cleated all our doubts from 8-9 yrs of my association . This much I can tell you from my experience. Wish you all very happy Navarathri . Please chant Lalita Sahasranama all 10 days till Dashami. Light Deepa everyday, Sit on the floor. With utmost Bhakti and Shradde, you chant LalitaSahasranama. Do not expect phala. It will happen when the time is right for you.
Thanks for reading. Take care until next time.
Dhanyavadah
Punarmilamaha🙏
Subrahmanya Padmanabha
