Hymn To The Mind

My foray into the mystic world of mantra chanting has considerably improved the quality of my sleep. Now I enjoy sound sleep every night. Earlier, due to preoccupation with numerous activities, many thoughts remained unacknowledged during the day and returned at night to find an audience. Often, negative thoughts would linger in the mind perpetuating fear, despair, unhappiness and stress, disturbing my nightly sleep.

In order to improve the quality of sleep, the first prerequisite is a calm mind. Some of the ways to calm the mind include practising pranayama, meditation and mantra chanting. Chanting of mantras helps in steadying the mind, controlling the subconscious and purification of the mind.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj movement in India, recommended chanting of the Shiva Sankalpa Suktam (SSS) before retiring to bed, though it’s equally effective during the day. When we sleep, our mind returns from travelling far and wide; along with our senses, it comes back to peace, the innermost dweller, the light of the soul.

Much healing and refinement occurs in our sleeping hours especially after chanting this ancient and powerful prayer. Shiva Sankalpa Suktam is a powerful six verse hymn from the Rig Veda that entreats the mind to dwell on the auspicious will of the Divine. For developing calm and clear thoughts, alignment to dharmic living is a must; it strengthens resolve

Not only does the chanting of SSS harness thoughts, it brings one pointed focus, purifies the mind and cultivates harmony. The six mantras of SSS are also a part of the Shanti Karnam mantras that are chanted while performing yajna. So, how does chanting of SSS mantras work?

When we are bewildered, confused, or in despair, the mantra acts like a soothing potion. Without a clear head on our shoulders life can be challenging to say the least. The ancients teach us that the subtle powers of the mind are necessary to be in alignment with our soul and in order to be happy and fulfilled.

The chanting of the six mantras of SSS powerfully rewires the brain and nourishes the subtle tissues to become more harmonious in the light of one’s soul purpose. Thus, one can easily steady one’s mind and control subconscious thoughts. Sankalpa Shakti is the power of will, more subtle than the mind but altogether more powerful when accessed to set intentions and persevere towards goals.

The first mantra of SSS: ‘May my mind that runs far from the waker and returns to the deep sleeper that wanders, who is the light of all lights — have auspicious thoughts’.

Second mantra, ‘May my mind that mind by which wise men, well established in karmkanda, remain engaged in various fire rituals, yajnas and also that which is unique and lives in all beings — have auspicious thoughts.’

Third mantra, ‘May my mind that mind which is endowed with intelligence, consciousness, fortitude, that is immortal and the light within all beings, and that without which no action is possible — have auspicious thoughts.

Fourth mantra, ‘May my mind that mind which is immortal because of which the past, present and future are known, that through the fire ritual performed by seven priests — have auspicious thoughts.’

Fifth mantra, ‘May my mind, the mind in which the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, and Yajur Veda mantras are established like the spokes in a chariot’s wheel and by which the minds of all beings are pervaded — have auspicious thoughts.’ The sixth mantra, ‘May my mind that mind which guides men like a good charioteer that controls the horses, and which dwells within and is ageless and fast — have auspicious thoughts.’

In essence, each of the six mantras ending with, ‘Tanme manah shiva sankalpam astu’ is a prayer for the mind, to fill it with auspicious thoughts.

Chanting of the six mantras of SSS, just before going to bed, will infuse the mind with auspicious thoughts ensuring good sleep and a healthy, happy life.