Sanskrit or English for home puja prayers? (yes ocpd)

[Vinayaka]

Namaskāram


I somewhat find myself belonging to the second group – for this reason I am unable to respond to your poignant queries because such questions never crossed the threshold of my mind. For that I apologize.

Pranāms

Eloquently spoken, and I am in the same boat, but never really find accurate words to describe it. Thank you.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Namaskāram

We often forget that Veda is not a book – It is perceived sound – Śruti. If the Veda is Apauruṣeya so is the sound – language.

Pranāms

Yes I agree, If we take Apauruseya to mean no author (Human) then even if the Vedic Sanskrit is designed to express in writing the inspirations of the Rishi, we (well i don't) know who, when and where it was first taken its current written form, so i do think it as being designed but i cant tell you by who, hence no author meaning to me Apaurusey.

If we take Apauruseya to mean un-authored by Purush (Ishvar), then it is logical to assume the written language was designed by someone, even the sruti-sound which is expressed in the written language is always connected with the letters and the pronunciation of the letters will be Apaurusey here Purush will mean Ishvar.

But as the Sound of Veda (Vidya) is taken as a part of the infinite Ishvar then it is also logical to assume that if Ishvar is un-created so will be the sound and the Vidya which is its attribute, so it will also mean Apaurusey in this regard.

I think Knowledge (of sound and written which are connected) are eternal.

There are many ways of looking at it, but as far as i know i cant say who is the Author of the Veda because it is Apaurusey, so to me it is Eternal.

 

[Poeticus]

Namaskāram

I cannot give you an answer that will make you happy. One approach to chanting – that is very popular among many westerners – says that precision or accuracy of pronunciation is not important – what matters is the feeling of the chanting – the devotion. The Scriptures are very clear on the matter – the chanting of the Vedas is not for everyone. Śabdabrahman – God manifest as sound.
I prefer a middle way – with lot of practice and concentration anyone can chant the Vedas.
For those who insist in their casual approach there is always next life… and the next… and the next… and so on.
Of course, you can always pray and chant in your own language. That is the safest approach.

Pranāms

P.S. – I met Japanese who have excellent Sanskrit pronunciation. Priests at the end of rituals chant a Mantra asking for forgiveness in case of any mistakes.

Namaste,

The rules of proper incantation apply to Yajnas, not Bhaktic chants. One can even incorporate a mispronounced Vedic verse during Puja and it will not be voided. But, if the mispronunciation occurs during Yajnas, the oblations are voided. And, yet, there is still a procedure to un-void the act during the Yajna, which I believe the Adhvaryu conducts. I am sure Kalicharan can either correct the Adhvaryu matter if I am wrong or provide either confirmation or an explanation.

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

Namaste,
The rules of proper incantation apply to Yajnas, not Bhaktic chants. One can even incorporate a mispronounced Vedic verse during Puja and it will not be voided. But, if the mispronunciation occurs during Yajnas, the oblations are voided. And, yet, there is still a procedure to un-void the act during the Yajna, which I believe the Adhvaryu conducts. I am sure Kalicharan can either correct the Adhvaryu matter if I am wrong or provide either confirmation or an explanation.

namaste MV-ji

I believe what you say is correct. But I don't and can't purport to be much knowledgeable in this matter, not having conducted or even attended (as far as memory serves) a genuine Vedic Yagya (conducted for its own sake). That is, the Shrauta in contrast to Grihya Yagya.

Adhvaryu is no doubt "the king" of Yagya, and is the most respected professional among all Rtvijas.

Sadly, even Brahmanas texts- the most ancient ones after the Veda- which were purposely created in order to write down the Yagya procedures (that were however anyways half-forgotten around that time) failed to retain these in their pristine form.

p.s.: you are better positioned - being a purist, and are into these way beyond more than me.

 

[Shântoham]

Namaste

Namaskāram

Apparently Śāntoham has left the building. In essence at least… Maybe we should learn to let the shadowy spirits of the lurkers be and allow an old thread to die quietly with dignity. In any case, if you cannot contain your youthful need to entertain yourself at others expenses, you can read – re-read, perhaps – Śāntoham previous posts on this thread – in connection with the OP, naturally – and discover that they are somewhat self-explanatory.
But this is – after all – only a humble suggestion…

Pranāms

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

I am not sure why I didn't notice this thread earlier!

Is a bhajan a prayer, a worship?

It is!

I have heard beautiful bhajans in Tamil and Bengali. There are such bhajans for example by Saints and bhaktas.

I can tell you, they work. They are not in Sanskrit, they work because of the true devotion of the one, the saint. But also, there will be some Sanskrit in there, too.

Take the word Om. It is said Om contains all the Vedas. You say Om with the proper heart, you are inside of all Vedas. So let us take a bhajan by a saint in Tamil, and we sing one of the lines from this Saint's bhajan with love "Om Saravana Bhava Om", look! There is Om, and there is Sanskrit. But there is also Tamil poetic words such as "Muruga You hold the beautiful Vel, beloved of Valli"... That is not Sanskrit, that is Tamil (of course Tamil is also a sacred language, but I could have used Bengali example, English example, so on...).

Now let us look closer at that Tamil bhajan. What if I start changing the words of the saint, changing that bhajan "just for the heck of it". Would that be good? Actually, it probably would not be good, it probably would take the power of that saint's devotion and muddle it. Yes that would not be good. The Om mantra would still help you, however worse still, let us say I remove the Om mantra entirely? Now I am taking the devotion of another, the art of another, the love and living prayer of another, and spray painting graffiti on it. Wouldn't you say?

In that case, it is better you make a loving bhajan in your language, your own art, but let it be true art not makeshift. It is ok if it is in English, and no doubt you will add Sanskrit in the Name of your Lord, and I suspect surely there will be an Om mantra there too? Yes!

So also you will have learned to pronounce the Om correctly, the Name correctly and with devotion. And a teacher gives guidance, a saint solance, yuur heart is in prayer! Can this be wrong? No, you are now giving a true prayer.

Some homas, some mantras, some Siddhas, some pujas, are very exacting. Yes, it is important. Perhaps those are done by experts.

And who knows, one day you too may be an expert!

Mr. Westerner, Cowboy, Indian, it is ok - pick up that guitar and sing a bhajan to Divine Hindu Communion! Sing! And who knows? You may sing the same true song to your murti or even in a temple! And who knows, after all - since bhajans in full power are often more powerful in groups - one day your bhajan may be on Youtube and the world can sing and pray and worship with you. And who knows? One day you may even become adept at a great homa, and become famous for your expertise!

Om Namah Sivaya