We recite these chants at the beginning of our practice, to express gratitude to our teachers, and to acknowledge the lineage of teachers who have carried the wisdom of the Vedas through the ages and preserved it for the benefit of humanity.

With these chants we also ask for support, protection and nourishment from divine forces, so that the obstacles to learning are removed.

The last two verses honour T Krishnamacharya and his son TKV Desikachar. These two men have played crucial roles in making the practice of Vedic chanting available to women, and to Westerners. We owe a special debt of gratitude to them, for without their generosity we would not have access to this practice.

This chant, composed by TKV Desikachar explores the layers of our human system. It is presented as a conversation between a child and their mother. 

The child gradually comes to understand the nature of the consciousness that resides within.

A health chant from the Taittiriya āranyaka, in which we ask for a nourishment, clarity and stability.

We chant these two verses at the end of each Vedic Chanting session. They are often referred to as the closing prayers.

The first is requesting forgiveness for any inadvertent errors made while chanting. The second surrenders all our actions to the Divine.