Why to chant ---
Ganapati
Atharvashirsha ?
This is
sung by many people many times .But very few try to understand the meaning of
the words .Scientific base behind those words .Of course even without knowing
meaning ,if anybody chants Atharvashirsha by total faith on God & faith in
himself ,he or she will also get benefited ,due to positive sound vibrations
created by Mantra .This is a type of Bhakti marga in
spiritual progress .Specific Sound vibrations created by Chanting Vedic
Mantras is the Base of Music Therapy .This Music Therapy is found to be
beneficial in the recovery of ICU patients .Unconscious patients can not
perceive the meaning of Mantra .But those specific positive sound vibrations
show the positive effects .
In these
days there are also some people who are interested to understand the logical
explanation for doing any spiritual activity .This is Jnyana
marga .If they are convinced ,then they are ready to do any ritual.
So here let
us understand some Logical explanation for chanting Mantra of Atharvashirsha
.As a common sense we must accept that different types of sounds make different
effect on body .For example ,if we talk lovingly with anybody ,he responds well
but if we shout on a child or especially
young chap ,they bounce back .So Mantra definitely
creates positive energy.
Athrvashirsha word itself has specific meaning
.This is made up of A + THARVA + Shirsha .Tharva means unstable .Atharva means
Stable .Shirsha means head or brain or mind .So by chanting Atharvashirsha
regularly can make your brain or mind or thoughts more stable, calm & happy
.Chanting of this mantra is like Tonic in this fast life or Hyperactive life
style ,to chilled down our senses .
We must
consider Ganesh is a symbol of Intelligence & mouse
is a symbol of Vices or bad habits .Like mouse enters in house unnoticed
likewise bad habits like drinking alcohol or smoking enter in our personality
unknowingly .Mouse damages clothes & food grains, similarly bad habits or
bad thoughts damages our mind .Ganesh has a control on the mouse, similarly we
our Intelligence must keep control on bad habits or bad thoughts.
Remember
Intelligence is a specialty of human being .Try to understand this verse
Aahar nidra bhaya maithunam cha saman etat pashubhihi
naranam I Budhihi visheshat tatra II
Meaning of
this verse is that Aahar i.e.Food ,Nidra i.e sleep & Bhaya i.e fear are
common instincts in beast & human being .But Buddhi i.e Intelligence in human
is a special thing that differs human from beast .
Buddhi or
Intelligence only can solve many problems in our life .When
Buddhi works ,life is like a heaven .When Buddhi is not working properly
,we do not keep control on our senses or mind ,the life can become hell .
So to keep
our mind stable & sharpen our Intelligence, chant Atharvashirsha ,by
understanding it’s meaning.
Your Friend
Prof.Dr.R.R.Deshpande