By Phillip Miner | Posted: August 03, 2018

Sanskrit, ancient India’s language, might seem to the average person about as mysterious--and “dead”--as Latin is today. However, Sanskrit is very much alive in the traditions we still practice today.. Much like how Latin is the basis for many terms in today’s legal system, and is the foundation for many present medical terms, there are benefits to learning Sanskrit that are spiritually satisfying to soul-seekers and those who wish to benefit from the wisdom of ancient India.

Understandably, for the average person, there isn’t enough time to learn and understand the entirety of the vast language of Sanskrit. Thankfully, however, much like how one doesn’t have to understand the entirety of Latin to be able to become a lawyer or doctor, one can study specific passages of Sanskrit - often called “shlokas” - in order to gain the benefits of chanting the passage on one’s spiritual journey. Here are five ways that studying these Sanskrit shlokas can be beneficial to your spiritual life.

1. Shlokas help calm the mind into a meditative state.

The meditative state that chanting shlokas can produce is perhaps the most obvious benefit of learning a bit of Sanskrit. The vibrating sounds of Sanskrit shlokas have been repeatedly demonstrated to bring calmness to otherwise occupied minds, reducing the hormones that cause stress, such as cortisol. You probably already know your first Sanskrit word: AUM. AUM, which we commonly chant during meditation sessions, is made up of three sounds (A, U, and M) that bring a state of awareness to the mind. The “aum” sound is thought to be the base sound of the universe, and by chanting it, we re-align ourselves with our natural state of being, one that is by nature calm and peaceful. And science backs this up, too: Mantra or shloka chanting has a demonstrated effect on the vagus nerve that helps bring clarity to our minds.

2. Sanskrit sounds can boost cognitive function.

Learning the meaning of Sanskrit shlokas can help boost your ability to retain memory. According to Big Think, Sanskrit chanting practitioners have “over 10 percent more grey matter across both cerebral hemispheres, and substantial increases in cortical thickness. Although the exact cellular underpinnings of gray matter and cortical thickness measures are still under investigation, increases in these metrics consistently correlate with enhanced cognitive function.” The benefits of learning Sanskrit are similar to learning other new languages, enhancing your neuroplasticity and keeping your mind young and flexible, but Sanskrit practiced in a spiritual setting has an added depth that can help bring about the other benefits listed below.

3. Chanting can foster compassion.

Regular chanting of Sanskrit shlokas, combined with an understanding of their meanings, can help bring about a sense of inner peace that is essential for developing compassion and understanding. According to Spirit Voyage, “chanting into the all-engulfing wave of vibrations arouses our experience of ourselves as spiritual beings. It opens our perception of ourselves as undifferentiated from God. It awakens the divine light and love within us.” This is why understanding the meanings of the Sanskrit shlokas one chants is important; through learning how to “talk the talk,” literally, it becomes easier to “walk the walk.”

4. There’s a shloka for every spiritual need.

As Sanskrit is a complete language with words for almost anything you can think of, the chanting of specific shlokas can have different effects on your life depending on the shloka and its meaning. A famous example is “Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha,” a Sanskrit mantra dedicated to the god Ganesha that can remove obstacles in your mind and in your life. When you have absolute divine faith in the mantra or shloka in question, the effects of it on your life become palpable and observable. It’s all about the power of your intention, and directing your attention and intention towards the most pressing issues of your life can make a powerful difference.

5. Chanting can boost immunity.

Chanting Sanskrit shlokas can be an effective way to naturally boost your body’s immune system. According to The Health Site, “the pressure on tongue, lips, vocal cord, palate and the connecting regions in the brain generated by the continuous enunciation of the Gayatri Mantra creates a resonance in and around your head. These vibrations stimulate the hypothalamus (a gland that is responsible for regularising the release and functioning of a number of bodily functions including immunity) that then functions more efficiently.”

There are many ways one can learn Sanskrit shlokas today, from sources as simple as books on the topic to taking lessons with dedicated Sanskrit teachers and scholars. You can connect with these teachers and scholars online or in person through your local university or college.

I’ve recently started my own study of Sanskrit shlokas. Keeping faith and practicing them diligently is helping me to gain the most benefit from it. I started because I wanted to understand the Indian culture that many of my own spiritual traditions originate from on a more in-depth level, but in the process I discovered truths about myself that I didn’t expect. Namely, my study of Sanskrit revealed to me just how much chanting these shlokas can benefit my mind and soul, not only through giving me something to do but also beautiful imagery to absorb and contemplate. Hopefully those who take up this study can find similar (or maybe completely different) benefits for themselves.

Phillip Miner writes his own spirituality blog, Light Club. He also writes on topics of spirituality for publications such as Hinduism Today.