Sri Rudra Suktam

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Listening to Vedic chanting of the Süktams (hymns) with intonations (svaras) is an enchanting experience. Chanting them, is even more so. Listening and chanting right meaning is both inspiring and elevating. Reflecting tods to realization of the supreme Truth that they convey. And meditating Vedic chanting is a part of the daily morning routine all Chinmaya Mission Vedanta Courses at Sandeepanis Gurukulas). The Rishi Putras (students) learn, among other Vedic hymns, the famous Puruşa Suktam and Sri Rudra Satum. Pujya Gurudev's commentary and my notes on the Parast Suktam is already in print. In the present Vedanta Course (2021-2023) at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, I decided to study, reflect and teach the beautiful meaning of Set Rudra Suktam to the Rishi Putras, who had already learnt chant it. It was truly a revealing and inspiring experience for me. May it also be so for all of you.

I well appreciate the hard and patient labour of love and dedication that goes into the making of a book, right from the recording of my talks, transcribing, editing, re-editing, repeated proof-reading, pagination, designing, financing to the final printing of a book. I sincerely thank all whom I am aware of and unaware of, who worked for bringing out Sri Rudra Süktam in this beautiful form. A special thanks to Shri Ravi & Smt. Nandini Nene for sponsoring the first print of Sri Rudra Süktam. May the blessing of Rudra Bhagavān and Pujya Gurudev be on all of them and their families.

The Vedas: Vedas are the realizations of eternal Truths that guide creation, revealed to Sages in their seat of meditation. The entire body of the knowledge enshrined in the Vedas are called mantras, as are individual sentences, verses and sections. Vaidika mantras are, therefore, not man-made (apauruşeya), and are eternal (nitya). They have remained unchanged in their pristine glory over thousands of years as they were handed down through an unbroken lineage of the teacher and the taught (guru-sisya parampară).

Vaidika Mantras: They are composed in prose, poetry and song and are chanted with particular intonations. According to the science of pronunciation (siksa), they should be recited with the correct alphabetic pronunciation (varna) and the right accent (svara) (consisting of the elevated (udatta), lower pitched (anudatta) and unaccented intonations (svarita)). They are chanted with the correct time (matra) required to pronounce - be it short, normal or long and with the right emphasis and effort (balam). There should be uniformity and right conjoining of the letters (santana)." The right chanting should be learnt from an adept teacher. Such recitation has enabled the Vaidika mantras to retain their purity of words and meaning. The mere chanting of the Vaidika mantras has a tremendous effect on the body and mind. However, it is better to say the mantras without intonations than to chant them wrongly.