Aurality

    Sanskrit originates in the Vedic oral tradition; it is meant to be spoken, heard, and transmitted aurally.

          Sanskrit is known as the “language of the gods,” or a Devavāṇī. It was first spoken in the 2nd millennium BCE by priests of the Vedic-Aryan tradition, known as Brahmins, who were responsible for the preservation of the Vedic texts and the Sanskrit language therein.  For centuries, these priests transmitted the Vedas orally, without any form of written codification, for the Vedas are considered śruti: divine knowledge that is heard. Śruti texts comprise the most central, authoritative canon within Hinduism. By contrast, almost all the later Hindu texts are considered smṛti: divine knowledge that is remembered. The Vedic texts, then, are the only revelations thought to be received directly from the divine – and this transmission is solely enabled through sound.

          The sounds of Sanskrit are therefore held as primordial reverberations that create and sustain the cosmos. Beyond the semantic meaning of the words, the sounds of Vedic Sanskrit constitute their own meaning. In Vedic rituals, even today, aural recitation remains critical to ritual success because the mere act of speaking Sanskrit is sacred in and of itself.

          Therefore, some yoga teachers speak Sanskrit to imbue their yoga classes with spiritual energy. Speaking Sanskrit can lend a lyrical, ethereal quality to postural cues, and this practice honors the Vedic oral tradition by attributing spiritual power to aural recitation.

    BUT in Vedic ritual, incorrect pronunciation defeats the purpose of aural recitation.

          The Vedic oral tradition did not place emphasis on the discursive meaning of the Sanskrit mantras, but rather on phonology and syntax. Translation: the meaning of the words was not nearly as important as the rhythm, the meter, and the precise pronunciation of each prescribed vocalization in a sequence. For centuries, Brahmin priests have employed an intricate system of mnemonic techniques to memorize each syllable of these Sanskrit scriptures forward and backward. Maintaining the purity of the Vedic sounds (śruti) is of utmost importance – not only for the efficacy of the ritual at hand, but also for the long-term survival of the Vedic-Sanskrit tradition.

          Correct pronunciation is key when speaking Sanskrit. For all the yoga teachers who pronounce “prasārita” like it rhymes with “margarita,” I’m talking to you. Sanskrit is written in a completely phonetic alphabet called Devanagari, meaning that its letters are always pronounced exactly as written; anyone who can read Devanagari can pronounce Sanskrit words properly. For this reason, I propose that the ability to read and write in Devanagari should be the bare minimum requirement for speaking Sanskrit in your yoga classes. I encourage all yogis to exceed this requirement by learning some practical Sanskrit comprehension skills!

Visit the Inspiration tab to read about my embodied experience of Aurality in modern yoga →

Crossing Over the Ocean of Existence

          At the end of a long yoga practice, I yearn to be swallowed by the sound of AUM.

          It washes over me in śavāsana, numbing my limbs and tingling the inside of my skull as it subsumes me with unearthly reverberations.

          A (THE CREATION)

          The sound permeates my membranes slowly, softly. I begin to float up, up, and away from the ground, away from my mat, away from my body. AUM is inside of me until I am inside of AUM, traversing the cosmic sea of milk contained within this sacred syllable. I crest over its cream-colored waves while the ocean churns and froths and swells, velvety smooth as it fills my ears and warms my skin. I melt into its syrupy sweetness.

          U (THE PRESERVATION)

          The ocean’s maw gapes open into a swirling abyss, enfolding me in its viscous depths. For a long moment, AUM cradles me where it is dark,

          and silent,

          and clear,

          and LOUD.

          Its long, deep vibrations are pierced by bright, ringing peals that echo in my chest. Effortlessly, I float.

          M (THE DESTRUCTION)

          When the tidal wave of sound recedes from my tissues, I wade through milky shallows. Opaque white droplets cling to my neck and earlobes like pearls. I emerge from the ocean cleansed; anointed.  

          Even after the AUM is finished, it resonates in each of my cells.  I have skimmed the effervescent foam from the surface of the sea, collecting a cluster of delicate bubbles that pop and fizz over my skin.

          AUM – the primordial sound; the seed (bīja) from which the whole universe grows, and to which it always returns. Just like the tide — who always comes back to kiss the shore every morning, no matter how many times she has been sent away.

Visit the Practice tab for actionable tips, self-reflection questions, and resources to learn more about Aurality in modern yoga →

Practical Tips for Yoga Teachers:

• If you plan to speak Sanskrit in your yoga classes, practice your pronunciation ahead of time. There are many language teachers who offer excellent pronunciation guides on YouTube.
• To capture the spiritual essence of Sanskrit in your classes, consider playing a recording of Vedic chants or other Sanskrit mantras performed by South Asian musicians.
• Start learning the Devanagari alphabet with these short videos. Just understanding the alphabet will make pronunciation so much easier, I promise!
• Alternatively, you may want to learn the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST), a scheme that is used to represent the sounds from Indic scripts in the Roman alphabet. Once you understand the rules of IAST, Sanskrit pronunciation will be a breeze.

Questions for Reflection:

• Why (or why not) do I speak Sanskrit in my yoga classes?
• Which Sanskrit words do I use most often in my yoga classes? Am I SURE that I am pronouncing them correctly?
• Do I feel personally responsible for continuing the Vedic oral tradition? If so, why do I feel that responsibility falls on me?

Resources for Further Learning:

Beck, Guy L. Sonic Theology: Hinduism and Sacred Sound. Columbia, S.C: University of South Carolina Press, 1993.

Gerety, Finnian McKean. “Between Sound and Silence in Early Yoga: Meditation on ‘Om’ at Death.” History of Religions 60, no. 3 (2021): 209–44. doi:10.1086/711944.

Gerety, Finnian McKean. “This Whole World is OM: Song, Soteriology, and the Emergence of the Sacred Syllable.” Order No. 3739009, Harvard University, 2015. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/this-whole-world-is-om-song-soteriology-emergence/docview/1751286765/se-2.

Holdrege, Barbara A. Veda and Torah: Transcending the Textuality of Scripture. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1995.

Killingly, Dermot. “Svadhyaya: An Ancient Way of Using the Veda.” Religions of South Asia 8, no. 1 (2014): 109–30. doi:10.1558/rosa.v8i1.109.

Pollock, Sheldon. The Language of the Gods in the World of Men: Sanskrit, Culture, and Power in Premodern India. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006.