Gayatri Mantra meditation
For adolescents
Mantra is a Sanskrit word made of two words MAN and TRA
MAN means mind & TRA means vibrations or projections. So mantra is a projection of mind through vibrations. The basic structure of universe is ATOM & basic unit of human body is cell which is made of billions of atoms.
Each atom has positive mass i.e. nucleus and negatively charged electrons around it which are in constant state of motion at very high velocity. Because of this velocity magnetic field is generated.
Every single atom vibrates with a specific frequency irrespective of the fact whether atom is part of metal (solid), liquid (water), or gas (air), cell or anything else. So every thing in the universe is vibrating; that is a given fact.
So when one pronounces words they create vibrations & waves in one’s mind similar to a pebble thrown in calm water in a pond generates waves. So these vibrations awake the subtle powers in a person. So the effect of whatever we speak falls on ourselves, our society& even the universe.
As PATANJALI RISHI has quoted “that one should not even curse any body out of anger or hatred because a part of that comes back to the person who uttered it.” It is just like NEWTON’S THIRD LAW OF MOTION “to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
As the sound is a very powerful element. So realizing the significance of this our sages developed the science of music\ sound (shabd) therapy called biowaves or MANTRA and collection of mantra is STOTRA. Which being related to ether which is very – very subtle (ATI-SUKSHAM) and becomes very powerful as the power of subtle is greater than the gross matter (sthool).So mantras are energy based sounds which awaken the magic with the help of meditation as CHASE CARTER puts it
‘There is no magic wand but there is magic with each of us’
“As it is said that the main objective of meditation is to have access into the subconscious mind where the mental processes occur without our conscious perception of them. We experience moments of intuition, wisdom &creativity when these processes flash into our conscious mind.”
Meditation helps the adolescents with ADD-an attention deficit disorder and ADHD i.e. (–attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as it helps to modify attentional network, alter dopamine levels, change neural activity and modulate EEG pattern. (A STUDY OF MINDFULLNESS meditation as a treatment for adults and adolescents with ADD and ADHD published in journal of attention disorders in U.S.)
Meditation increases our awareness of our breathing pattern & puts us more in touch with ourselves & the world around us. Breathing, heart rate, & blood pressure are considerably lowered are the physiological changes observed by meditation.
As for adolescents are concerned it is a very difficult phase for both children as well as for the parents. On one hand children try to assert their independent identity by rebelling against all the norms of the society which generally ends into conflict between parents and children .So to avoid all the confusion and the stress which the child is going through this transition phase from childhood to adulthood can be smoothened by gayatri mantra meditation since mantras are the energy based sounds and saying them produces actual physical vibrations over the time.
Since the hormonal activities are at peak at this age about (12-19 yrs) mantra meditation helps them to cope better with the changes around them. The effect of meditation has been proved scientifically as stated below—
It increases our awareness of our breathing pattern and puts us more in touch with ourselves and the world around us. Breathing, heart rate are considerably lowered are the physiological changes observed by meditation. One is less emotionally reactive to environmental stresses because our (‘AMYGDALE ‘has been cooled and slowed down. One’s concentration, self-awareness, problemsolving and creative capacities are strengthened Bennett goleman & goleman 2001; goleman 2003).
With mindfulness meditation adolescents learn how to use their mind as allies thus helping them better to cope up with multitude of problems in their lives. It cultivates the state of relaxed alertness, feeling of friendliness, and it cultivates the state of freedom from biological drives.
During mantra meditation the amount of adrenaline hormone being released into blood stream also goes down. The cortisol levels (a stress hormone) drops and remain low for a long time even after that. LACTATE another ingredient in blood stream falls down considerably as .it drops four times more during meditation than just lie down and relax. Lactate tends to produce feeling of anxiety.
A most prolific meditation researcher HERBERT BENSON wrote that during meditation an individual’s mental pattern changes so that he breaks free from what I call “worry cycles”. These are unproductive grooves or circuits that cause the mind to “play” over and over again almost involuntarily, the same anxieties and health impairing thoughts.
During mantra meditation the blood flow to the brain increases while the body relaxes. AGININE VASOPRESSIN (AVP) increases 400% during meditation. The hormone which increases the mental alertness.
Mantra meditation has more effect on the body than sitting quietly for some time with self because during meditation you rest your mind on one single thought while during sitting quietly; allows your thoughts to roam and when the thoughts bounce around randomly and some thoughts catch your attention and bother you and thus mind sticks on that disturbing thought. So that is why it can be so unrelaxing sitting quietly.
So living with a depressed adolescent meditation helps to let go the stress. Meditation with mantra is known as guided meditation. It helps ADOLSCENTS to cope up with restlessness.
Since, GAYATRI is a universal prayer for everybody, for it calls upon to the supreme to awaken strength and human intelligence so that it may lead us through spiritual efforts and for children activities to success. It does not ask for any mercy but for clear intellect. It can be recited by any body irrespective of cast and creed because we all are children of one omnipresent GOD.
Since, one can perhaps direct one’s mind at the moments of sadness, frustration, and anger in a balanced way that is why our RISHIS made it mandatory to initiate children at adolescent age for gayatri meditation so that they could become good citizens.
The mantra when chanted with concentration the TARANG\VIBRATIONS created by it will bring a change in the brain. It activates the neurons in the brain and they get fresh lease of energy. It also has positive effect on 72,000 channels in the body (naadis in body). Naadi means the channels through which the energy flows. Japa only awakens one’s latent energy. It has no relation with that GOD \ GURU would be pleased, but the truth is that it only awakens the sleeping parts of one’s own brain. When gayatri is meditated upon ALPHA WAVES start getting awakened in the brain thus activates the brain.
It helps to develop SELF ESTEEM and FAITH in SELF. SELF ESTEEM is the experience of being competent to cope up with basic challenges of life and being worthy of happiness. Self esteem issue is very important throughout the teen years it certainly may have its ups and downs but much of this is a normal reaction to all the physical, emotional and social changes taking place.
As mahatma Gandhi said “sanan shareer ki shudhi ke liye hai to prarthna man aur atma ki shudhi ke liye hai” so prayers and meditation is must for children.
I conclude this topic with a poem by THE PROPHET KAHLIL GIBRAN about children
Your children are not your children, they are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself, they come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you, You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts, You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow which you can-not visit even in your dreams,
You may strive to be like them but seek them not to make like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
As per our yogic-science meditation effects the functioning of IDA and PINGLA naadis i.e. balance between emotions and actions. And also regulates the proper functioning of SUSHUMNA naadi i.e. the autonomous nervous system.
As Swami VIVEKA NANDA said that human body is temple of living god, so every effort should be made to beautify a them physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually with the help of yoga, pranayaam and meditation and prayers.
As the adolescents constitute 22% of the total population of the country and are the future of the nation. So every effort should be made to channelise their energy toward building the nation so that they become sensible citizens of tomorrow.
Dr. Sunita Gupta
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