The Magic of Mantra

Kirtan – Mantra – Yoga – BhaktiAt some stage in our lives, I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been caught off-guard by music.Whether it’s a song, a phrase, a rhythm, harmony or tune that gripped you, swept your thinking mind off it’s busy feet and laid it back to rest on a bed of peaceful bliss and connection, there is a power behind the intricacies of sound and song like nothing else.When we dive deeper, it mostly comes down to vibration.What Is Kirtan?

The ancient devotional practice of Kirtan (a form of group singing where a ‘leader’ guides the group in call-and-response chanting) is more than just a spiritual sing-song.

Many of the Sanskrit mantras used in Kirtan today have been passed down through thousands of years by gurus, students and yogis who have been touched by the potency and depth of the practice. It’s this depth and power held by each mantra or Sanskrit phrase which, when channelled correctly, has the capacity to literally change the neurology of our brain and connect us to a powerful stream of deep inner awareness, steeped in tradition and meaning. Their recitation connects us to an infinite source of energy, maximising our energetic, emotional and even physical state after just a short time of practice.

In group settings like we create at Udara, Kirtan can be an extra special experience. Each of the songs, words, notes, and combinations of harmonies utterly dazzle our busy minds, the repetition of mantras stunning and lulling the ‘monkey mind’ into stillness. We become aware of that quiet space beyond the noise of outward everyday life – the quiet space dominated only by the frequency of nature from which we all have come.

The Heart of Yoga

On a practical level, Kirtan falls under the bracket of Bhakti Yoga, which is the Yoga of the heart. Bhakti is a form of devotional practice designed to re-connect us to the endless stream of compassion and love which exists within us all. Once it has been made conscious, we can then  direct this awareness towards cultivating a love for a personal deity if that’s our spiritual intention, or for a broader vision of divinity and unity between all beings.

By sharing in this practice with groups of people we become more aware of the power of the voice and sound to help this realisation become an embodied reality – taking our yoga ‘off the mat’ and into our everyday lives. Becoming a more compassionate, understanding and feeling (rather than ‘thinking’) being has multiple knock-on effects which ripple down through the various other facets of our life, and is ultimately the purpose of all forms of yoga practice.

The Science

On a cellular level (for you scientific brains!) chanting mantra has incredible physiological effects. When observed under a microscope, we see that our very cells are made up of vibrating particles which combine to make the earthy mass of our bodies. Water molecules make up 70% of this matter, all of which combines to make our cells, tissues, organs and blood vessels.

(Demonstrating the water surface of different sound frequencies)

If we consider that our bodies are made up of 70% water, and we see the effect that the vibration of sound has on water (see image above), then the significant impact of music and mantra on our physiology becomes apparent (the same can be said about the Moon, but that’s another blog post!).

Udara’s sound healing works in a similar way, with the unique tones, notes and frequencies produced by specific healing instruments and singing bowls played in sequence and in close proximity to our bodies reaching deep into the cellular body, harmonizing our particles and rebalancing areas which may before have experienced disconnect or discomfort (including in the mind). You will find more information on Udara’s Sound Healing events and private sessions on our website and in our next blog posts.

Finding Your Voice

Another aspect of mantra practice which has hugely powerful effects on our system is the activation of the throat chakra (Vishuddi) during the act of chanting. For many people, and for many reasons, this area can quite easily become blocked over time. A blocked throat chakra is associated with issues surrounding self-expression, communication, vocal projection and overall confidence in oneself.

If you’re not a singer, teacher or communicator by profession, often it might not feel like an area that needs work. When it comes down to it, however, we see how the root of all positive relationships starts with cultivating full, open and honest communication – and we all must navigate through varying forms of relationship in our lives!

In this way, Udara’s Kirtan circles can serve as a powerful way for us to reconnect with our own inner teacher – finding comfort and familiarity with the sounds of our own voices, slowly becoming more aware of what our inner voices and intuition are telling us in all situations. 

Join Us For Kirtan, Sound Healing and More!!

At Udara Bali we hold weekly special events incorporating Kirtan and Sound Healing, often combined with a Cacao Ceremony to open the heart even further with the ancient plant-healing tonic of the cacao plant. These events are truly special candlelit experiences in our shala overlooking the ocean. Come along to soothe the very depths of your soul using voice, mantra and the power of sound.

We can’t wait to see you there! Stay updated about our events by following us on Facebook or click here to see our monthly events schedule.