Ancient Vedic Astrology is believed to have an essence of proven science associated with it. This is visible mainly as the Astronomical phenomenons and events, which rules the aspects having a deep-rooted connection with Astrology. However, less significance is given to the chanting of the Vedic mantras and the science behind it is often disregarded. The Vedic mantras have always been given spiritual relevance, but, the fact is that people fail to notice the scientific principles behind it.

Chanting of mantras is a scientific tool of prompting certain vibrations within oneself to channelize the universal energy through our bodies.

Vedic chanting is believed to enhance the native’s mental strength, ease stress, help achieve a higher level of consciousness, and bring about physical and intellectual development. It also helps in overcoming the fear, anger and depression, and provides relief from health disorders related to respiratory, digestive, reproductive, circulatory and cognitive systems.

Associated Scientific Phenomenon

The scientific phenomenon behind the chanting of mantras is a very well researched topic and numerous scientific papers have been published to support this fact. These researches have gone deep into the associated science to establish a factual relationship between the chanting of the Vedic mantras and the consequent physiological changes that occur in the human body, specifically the brain and the nervous system.

In scientific terms, a signal is a media which conveys a piece of information. Acoustic signal explains the information in a manner that can be interpreted by the human mind. The Mantra is also a form of an acoustic signal. It is a combination of sound, breath and rhythm, which surprisingly channelizes human biological energy system.

The chanting of “Om” or the “Omkara” and other Vedic verses is believed to have a profound impact on all the energy centres of the human body. This contention is further substantiated with the facts related to the “CHAKRAS‟ science according to which there are 7 energy centres in the human body, which can be tapped with the proper rhythm of breath that is, in turn, is controlled with proper pronunciation of certain frequencies of acoustic energy.

One of the researches published reveals that according to Science, the human body has “Self-regulating” system known as homeostasis to maintain the stability of body parameters. The energies emerging from Vedic chanting impact the medulla, the sound-related nerve that associates with every one of the muscles of the body through neurotransmission. These vibrations through the vagus nerve, the internal ear, interfaces with the larynx, lungs, heart, liver, stomach, kidneys, bladder, little and digestive organ.

Chanting a mantra rhythmically is believed to create a neuro-linguistic effect which even occurs if the meaning of the mantra is not known. The listener is required to have a good ear, stay true to the punctuations, pauses, pronunciation, notation, length and the force of the chant and repeat it over and over again. Listening to mantras regulates blood pressure, the heart rate, brain waves and the adrenalin level.

Science related to Various Mantras

1. Chanting ‘OM”

In research on the scientific analysis of the Mantra “Om” scientists performed an analysis of power versus frequency of the signal energies associated with OM. The findings suggested that OM shall be considered as a cosmic sound and the totality of all sounds. The interesting finding is the deviations in Electro Encephalograms (EEG) waves towards low-frequency rhythms of OM chanting. The inferences were also drawn about these changes may be due to electrical activity of the brain produced under the influence of this Vedic chanting.

1. Chanting “Sri Vishnu Sahasranama”

Research to assess the beneficial effects of chanting “Sri Vishnu Sahasranama” for 12 weeks revealed the effectiveness of this chanting for stress management. The listener was tested using DASS-42 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) and Serum cortisol test to assess stress, blood pressure for automatic functions and spatial verbal memory test were used to assess cognitive functions. All outcomes before and after 12 weeks were recorded and found a significant deviation in reduced stress levels after being prone to the consistent listening of this Vedic chanting.

1. Chanting “Om Namah Shivay”

In another study, an experiment was done on women with Hypertension. The participants initially underwent “Om Namah Shivaya” chanting sessions for 3 days under the supervision of yoga teacher. After that, they were requested to chant “Om Namah Shivaya” 108 times in the morning for 40 days. Data of the experiment revealed that there was a significant decrease in depression, anxiety, stress scores, cortisol levels when the chanting was increased to 108 times.

Conclusion

Chanting of Vedic Mantra has been a highly researched topic. There is a precedence of the scientifically proven experiments that reveal the amount of energy, packed in the chanting of the mantras, which when released, bring about healing effects in the human body. It is heartening to realise that the relevant scientific processes given in the Vedic scriptures have been proved after thousands of years of their existence and now the Spiritual awakening is well supported with experimental facts.