An important finding on the influence of Sanskrit on the speaker is reproduced below. I spotted this article in my files while collecting information to write a rebuttal to Karunanidhi's recent outburst on the Sanskrit and Vedas. News report on Karunanidhi's unwarranted call is reproduced at the end of this article. Readers may think I could have left out the Karunanidhi part and just kept this article 'pure', but I want readers who come from places outside Tamilnadu to know the kind of nasty politics that Karunanidhi always does and how he instigates his supporters with hatred towards Sanskrit, Vedas and Hinduism.
**********
Reading Sanskrit Improves Brain Functioning.
by Brynne Sissom
The MUM Review, 6.Feb. 2002
The physiological effects of reading Sanskrit are similar to those experienced
during the Transcendental Meditation® technique, according to research recently
completed by Dr. Fred Travis, director of the ERG/psychophysiology lab of
Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, USA.
Dr. Travis asked his test subjects to read passages from the Bhagavad-Gita in
Sanskrit and in modern foreign languages (Spanish, French, or German). In each
case they could pronounce the sounds but did not know the meaning. He measured
brain wave patterns (ERG), heart and breath rate, and galvanic skin resistance
during two reading sessions and during a 15-minute session of the Transcendental
Meditation technique.
He found that while they read Sanskrit their physiology was similar to those
measured during the Transcendental Meditation technique, but significantly
different from reading a modern language.
Their skin resistance steadily increased during reading Sanskrit and during
practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique (showing greater stability
in their physiology) but remained the same during the reading of a modern
language.
Their ERG alpha power and coherence during reading Sanskrit were also similar to
that during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique, and both of
these were higher than when the subjects read a modern language.
Dr. Travis said that these findings support Maharishi's predictions on the
effects of reading Sanskrit. Maharishi, in Vedic Knowledge for Everyone,
predicted that reading the Vedic Literature as it flows and progresses in
perfect sequential order has the effect of regulating and balancing the
functioning of the brain physiology and training consciousness, the mind, to
always flow in perfect accordance with the evolutionary direction of Natural
Law.
Dr. Travis found the similarity of physiology during reading Sanskrit and the
Transcendental Meditation technique is especially noteworthy because one reads
with his or her eyes open and engages in active perceptual and cognitive
processes, while the Transcendental Meditation technique is done with one's eyes
closed and entails a reduction of mental activity. This suggests that the state
gained during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique may be
integrated with active mental processes by reading Sanskrit.
Dr. Travis said, "The Transcendental Meditation technique takes the awareness to
pure consciousness at the source of thought. Seeing similar patterns of
physiology during reading Sanskrit as during the Transcendental Meditation
technique suggests that reading Sanskrit enlivens pure consciousness at the
source of thought and integrates that state with reading and speaking. In short,
while practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique locates pure
consciousness, leading to the state of Transcendental Consciousness, reading
Sanskrit integrates inner silence with outer activity, helping to cultivate
enlightenment."
***********
From
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Karunanidhi-gives-veiled-threat-to-Centre-on-Sanskrit/articleshow/52735147.cms
**********
Reading Sanskrit Improves Brain Functioning.
by Brynne Sissom
The MUM Review, 6.Feb. 2002
The physiological effects of reading Sanskrit are similar to those experienced
during the Transcendental Meditation® technique, according to research recently
completed by Dr. Fred Travis, director of the ERG/psychophysiology lab of
Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, USA.
Dr. Travis asked his test subjects to read passages from the Bhagavad-Gita in
Sanskrit and in modern foreign languages (Spanish, French, or German). In each
case they could pronounce the sounds but did not know the meaning. He measured
brain wave patterns (ERG), heart and breath rate, and galvanic skin resistance
during two reading sessions and during a 15-minute session of the Transcendental
Meditation technique.
He found that while they read Sanskrit their physiology was similar to those
measured during the Transcendental Meditation technique, but significantly
different from reading a modern language.
Their skin resistance steadily increased during reading Sanskrit and during
practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique (showing greater stability
in their physiology) but remained the same during the reading of a modern
language.
Their ERG alpha power and coherence during reading Sanskrit were also similar to
that during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique, and both of
these were higher than when the subjects read a modern language.
Dr. Travis said that these findings support Maharishi's predictions on the
effects of reading Sanskrit. Maharishi, in Vedic Knowledge for Everyone,
predicted that reading the Vedic Literature as it flows and progresses in
perfect sequential order has the effect of regulating and balancing the
functioning of the brain physiology and training consciousness, the mind, to
always flow in perfect accordance with the evolutionary direction of Natural
Law.
Dr. Travis found the similarity of physiology during reading Sanskrit and the
Transcendental Meditation technique is especially noteworthy because one reads
with his or her eyes open and engages in active perceptual and cognitive
processes, while the Transcendental Meditation technique is done with one's eyes
closed and entails a reduction of mental activity. This suggests that the state
gained during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique may be
integrated with active mental processes by reading Sanskrit.
Dr. Travis said, "The Transcendental Meditation technique takes the awareness to
pure consciousness at the source of thought. Seeing similar patterns of
physiology during reading Sanskrit as during the Transcendental Meditation
technique suggests that reading Sanskrit enlivens pure consciousness at the
source of thought and integrates that state with reading and speaking. In short,
while practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique locates pure
consciousness, leading to the state of Transcendental Consciousness, reading
Sanskrit integrates inner silence with outer activity, helping to cultivate
enlightenment."
***********
From
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Karunanidhi-gives-veiled-threat-to-Centre-on-Sanskrit/articleshow/52735147.cms
Karunanidhi gives veiled threat to Centre on
Sanskrit
Chennai, Jun 13
In a veiled caution to the Centre, DMK patriarch Karunanidhi today
said "no one should become responsible for a big stir" against Sanskrit on
the lines of massive agitations against Hindi held in the state decades ago.
"I would like to tell at this juncture that no one should become
responsible for a big stir against Sanksrit like the
one against the imposition of Hindi," he said, upping the ante against the
language without naming any party or the Union government.
Hailing Tamil as an influential and ancient
language, he said, "if they say that we will give no place for Tamil...
(also) seeking to wipe out the hoary tradition of the language, and if they say
that we will only give room for Sanskrit, then every
Tamilian should take a whip to root out that hegemony."
He made the remarks at a marriage function of a
party leader' daughter here.
"Let us take a valorous vow that we will not
give room for hegemony of Sanskrit. There is no place for Sanskrit in Tamil
Nadu. Not only in Tamil Nadu, but
in any other language speaking state, whoever imposes Sanskrit, we will drive
it (the hegemony) away," he said.
DMK chief's comments comes after he had earlier
slammed the Centre for being "obstinate in thrusting Sanskrit as it is a
convenient route towards fundamentalist Hindutva." He had cited media
reports that the Centre may set up a board for Vedic education. He had also
referred to introduction of Sanskrit as a third language in CBSE schools and
efforts to get Hindi empanelled as an official language to buttress his
point that Sanskrit and Hindi were being promoted vigorously.
Hitting back, BJP State
president Tamilisai
Soundararajan, in her repartee, had asked him if his party had not used
posters in Hindi to grab votes of North Indians during polls. AIADMK also had
mocked at the DMK for using Hindi during elections.
