The importance of chanting in Sanskrit

Why bother to learn the Sanskrit version of all the mantras and dharanis?If we are to look at how the Sanskrit language came about, we will surely understand why we should chant the mantras and dharanis in their original form.Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas. The Vedas are probably the earlier literatures written by Man and were the holiest texts regarded by the Hindus. It originates from the rishis, who were spiritually refined saints. During their deep meditations, the rishis tuned their minds inwards on the subtleties of their body. As a result of different levels of attainment and focus, the rishis could hear and feel the corresponding vibrations in the body. By vocalizing these vibrations, the fifty letters of the Sanskrit language were formed. Each of the fifty letters corresponds to one petal of the lotus flower residing in the seven chakras in our body. Reciting a letter will bring a respond from the related chakra, which is why chanting in Sanskrit is so important. This sacred history of the language is seldom mentioned in books until recently, in Deepak Chopra's book 'Sychrodestiny' in which he gave a short account of it. To emulate the vibrations closely, the tongue and mouth positions are greatly emphasized, making it the only language devised according to where in the mouth the sounds are made. It is therefore a language greatly dependent on its vibratory nature. Being a language of sacred origin, Sanskrit has more words for the Divine and more precise terms for defining consciousness and meditative experience than any other language. As a result, it is rarely used in conversation but for religious verses and texts, both Hindu's and Buddhist's.Sanskrit mantras are primarily found in Hinduism but due to their power, the Lord Buddha too used the language extensively, especially in the mantras and dharanis. From the origins of Sanskrit, we realized that other than the emphasis on the depth of our sincerity, the pronunciations are equally important and not to be overlooked in order to fully manifest the mantra’s or dharani’s power.Remember, a mantra is like a bird and one’s sincerity and accurate pronunciation are the two wings of it. Without either one, the bird cannot soar into its actualization.