There is enormous research globally on the effect of structured sound on the unborn child. It has been proved that the fetus responds to sound from the 24th week of pregnancy. While sounds are greatly altered as they pass from the outside world to the ear of the fetus, there is more than sufficient stimulation to be heard in the womb.
There are documented changes in the heart rate and breathing patterns of the fetus in response to sound stimulation. It has been proved that there is a ‘biology in music’ and that structured specific sounds heard by the fetus in the womb provide a strong foundation for later learning and behavior.
Says Giselle Whitwell, a prenatal music therapist, “We now know that the fetus is having first language lessons in the womb. The inflections of the mother tongue are conveyed through speech and song.
The singing voice has a richer frequency range than speech. Babies born of deaf mothers miss these important first lessons in language development.”
Even in nature, the effects of music are passed on to the offspring in the fetal stage. Dr Alfred Tomatis of France mentions being intrigued by the fact that songbirds hatched by silent foster mothers can’t sing. This finding has been replicated by other naturalists too.
In India, Vedic chanting provides a culturally appropriate sound for both the mother and the child. The inherent resonance and rhythms in the chanting will stimulate the child and provide a strong basis for later learning patterns. Listening to Vedic chanting is the first step in early parenting for the couple.
It affords an opportunity to be in harmony with the new life growing inside the womb. The pressures of pregnancy are calmed somewhat by Vedic chanting.
While listening to the chants, it is not necessary to understand the meaning of the mantras. The perennial sound vibrations, which exist in the cosmos, connect every cell. Sounds can be understood and related to at three levels:
Shabda Anusandhaanam (perceiving the vibration of sound): When we hear certain sounds, we relate only to the sound vibration that leaves an impact on our system.
Artha Anusandhaanam (perceiving the meaning of sound): The mind will make an effort to comprehend the meaning of the sound, and then relate to the sound.
Bhaava Anusandhaanam (perceiving the emotions/ feelings of sounds): Every sound, whether it has a specific meaning or not, contains a bhaava or emotion in it. A sensitive person can hear and feel the intention of the sound.
By listening to Vedic chanting in the prenatal period, it is possible to nourish the child through music into becoming well integrated in his/her physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual self.
The Ojas Foundation in Chennai is a global Vedic health movement. It promotes the Vedic path to healthy living. Mining the essence of the Vedas, this movement advocates the use of chanting, guided meditation, stress reduction, diet, modifications and exercises to deal with health challenges on an everyday basis.
The founder, Sri Tartwamasi Dixit, is a Vedic scholar who has extracted specific mantras for specific health problems. The co-founder, Dr Gita Arjun, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Chennai, uses and helps channel the Vedic knowledge to access the wellspring of healing energies dormant in all of us.
Recently, the Ojas Foundation released Ojas for the Expectant Mother, a CD which contains specific mantras culled from the Vedas which impact the child in a positive way.