Mantra Yoga and Vedic Intonation

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the definitions of Mantra, various Vedic pitch notations (swara), religious deities mentioned in the sūktam, and Sanskrit phonetic pronunciation guides.

Mantra

A sacred utterance, numinous sound, syllable, phonemes, or group of words believed to have special spiritual power, received with intuitive power rather than being composed.

Swara

The pitches used in Vedic chanting to intonate each syllable of a mantra.

Svarita

A swara pronounced in a high note, indicated by a small vertical line above the letter.

Dīrgha svarita

A swara notation indicated by two small vertical lines above the letter.

Udātta

A swara pronounced in a middle note, indicated by the absence of lines.

Anudātta

A swara pronounced in a low note, indicated by an underline under the letter.

ṛ

A sound made with the tip of the tongue raised but not quite touching the roof of the mouth, similar to the 'ri' in 'ring'.

ṃ

A Sanskrit phonetic sound described as a pure nasal.

ḥ

A Sanskrit phonetic sound described as an exhaled breath.

Navagrahasūktam

A Sanskrit hymn addressed to the nine celestial deities (Navagraha), which include the planets and nodal points.

Āditya

The deity addressed in the first section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Soma

The deity addressed in the second section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Aṅgāraka

The deity addressed in the third section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Budha

The deity addressed in the fourth section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Bṛhaspati

The deity addressed in the fifth section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Śukra

The deity addressed in the sixth section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Śanaiścara

The deity addressed in the seventh section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Rāhu

The deity addressed in the eighth section of the Navagrahasūktam.

Ketu

The deities/points addressed in the ninth section of the Navagrahasūktam.