Notes for Water Way Chants are from the book Yin Yoga: Journey for Health and Happiness by Ivy Xie-McIsaac
Mantra
Mantras are suggested to be applied in Yin Yoga practice, either by listening or chanting; either in the mind or out loud. A mantra doesn’t have to be in Sanskrit. It can be in any language we know, but mantra is a Sanskrit word.
Even if we don’t know the meaning of a Sanskrit mantra, the energy which exists in the mantra as sound vibration will work directly. It’s like, a mother’s lullaby can put a little baby to sleep, even though the baby doesn’t understand the meaning of the words.
Om Jaya Gaṅge Maiyyā Maiyyā Jaya Gaṅge Mātā
Oh Mother Gaṅgā, Victory to you Divine Mother.
Gaṅgā is “swift-goer”. It is considered sacred and regarded as the river of purification.
River – the Cradle of Civilization
The cradles of civilization are all related to rivers, such as Ganges, Indus river, Yellow river, Yangtze river, the river Nile, the Tigris and the Euphrates.
The river Ganges, begins in the eastern Himalaya, and flows through Northern Indian towards the east. Living on Mount Kailās in the Himālaya range, Lord Śiva is depicted as wearing a crescent moon in his hair and the river Ganges (Gaṅgā) flowing from his hair.
Gaṅgā is related to Iḍā Nāḍī, the Soma or Chandra (moon) Nāḍī. Iḍā Nāḍī corresponds to the sympathetic nervous system, which allows the body to function under stress.
Gaṅgā river is personified and considered as the eldest daughter of Himavat. Himavat means a snowy mountain; the himālaya; kailāsa.
Kālī Kālī, Mahā Māyā, Namo Kālīke Namo Namaha
We honour Kālī for her ability to create the illusion of this world of forms. By her grace this veil will be removed, and we will directly behold the glorious vision of Divine presence.
Kālī means night, a black or dark-blue colour. Kālī also is a name of the Divine mother. Māyā means illusion, unreality.
Deep Pool – the Hidden Mystery
In summer the heat is the main source of disease. In a hot summer we enjoy the night and the cool water. Clear water in the swimming pool is transparent, but a deep pool in the mountain is dark-blue that cannot be seen through. It cools our body and calms our mind.
A deep pool is hidden deep in the mountain. Don’t wait for happiness to come like the prince in the story of Cinderella. Go out and search! For places where magnificent clothing and carts are the pass to get it, without the helping hand from the fairy Godmother, the prince could not have met Cinderella. Don’t just look to outside appearance, look into the heart!
Om Śakti, Om Śakti, Om Śakti Om, ādhi Śakti, Mahā Śakti, Parā Śakti Om
We praise Divine energy in all its forms; she is primal, great, and supreme.
Śakti means “power, ability, strength, might, effort, energy, capability.” Śakti is the primordial cosmic energy and is the personification of Divine feminine power.
Waterfall – the Power of Water
Tumbling from the high cliff, the waterfall descends straight to the deep pool. The more gap between the top and bottom, the more powerful the waterfall. When the river Gaṅgā was going to leave heaven and come down to Earth, she could wipe out everything in her path. To avoid the destruction on Earth, Lord Śiva takes Gaṅgā river on his head and lets Gaṅgā river flow from his hair.
The mind tends to follow a certain pattern; after a while we will form a certain way of thinking that is hard to break. A strong impact from outside will force us to break the pattern. That is why it is said “Affliction is Bodhi.” Suffering that we experience is a way to attain illuminated or enlightened intellect.
Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ Hrih
The jewel in the lotus.
Maṇi means pearls, gems, jewels. Padma means a lotus (especially the flower of the lotus-plant which closes towards evening). Hrih, “is the catalyst that activates the compassion of the Buddhas to transform our negative emotions into their wisdom nature.”
Lake – the Gem of the Earth
The Tibetan Plateau is known for its pure and fresh air and it is the place that is closest to heaven. On the Tibetan Plateau there are thousands of lakes that collect water from the melting ice and snow. The surrounding environment gives whole support for the lake. A lake in a city cannot compare to a lake on the Tibetan Plateau as the city lake loses its fresh water supply from the environment.
In Tibet, Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ is pronounced Om Mani Peme Hung. We can see this mantra everywhere: temples, mountains, rocks, houses, flags. This mantra embodies the compassion and blessing of all the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and invokes especially the blessing of Avalokiteśvara, the Buddha of Compassion. In Chinese, Avalokiteśvara is 观音, which literally means “observe the sound.”
Kālī Durgāyai Namo Namaḥ
Salutations to the Divine Mother in Her Forms as Kālī and Durgā.
Kālī means night, a black or dark-blue colour. Durgā is the name of the daughter of Himavat (King of snowy mountains), the inaccessible or terrifying goddess.
Snow and Ice – Solid Water
The cover of snow and ice gives the earth and plants a time to rest. Winter is the season when things are concealed and is the coldest season of the year. The cold is caused by the axis of the earth in the hemisphere being oriented away from the sun.
Kālī means night, black. The darkness is because of absence of light, like at night, or the result of complete absorption of light, like a black hole. The fear of death is the real root cause of stress, suffering and misery in our life. To understand death helps us let go of the fear of death. The face of death might be fearful, but if it can urge us to start the journey for health and happiness, then we can become fearless and have courage to face death at the end of life. As Rumi says,
The wound is the place where the light enters you.
Spiritual knowledge is the light, seek the light! Pray to the one who holds the light!
Asoto Mā Sad Gamaya Lead me from the unreal to the real.
Tamaso Mā Jyotir Gamaya From darkness to light.
Mṛyor Mā Amṛtaṃ Gamaya From mortality to immortality.
iman me gange yamune saraswati sutudri stomagum sacata parusniya
asikniya marudvrdhe vitastayarjikiye srnuhya susomaya
This is a hymn from Rigveda (the Nadistuti sukta). This hymn includes 10 rivers which originate from the Tibetan Plateau, beginning with the Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Sarasvatī and moving westward. Nadī means a river, flowing water.
Rain – the Preserver of Life
From space, the Earth looks blue because the surface of Earth is mostly water. All life depends on water. About 70% of the human body is made up of water and more than 70% of the Earth’s surface is water-covered. Water creates an environment that sustains and nurtures plants, animals and humans.
Even though 70% of the Earth is covered by water, most of it is in the ocean and cannot be used for drinking as it is salty water. The water cycle in nature can transfer the salty ocean water to fresh water. Rain is the product of the cycle. And the river is collecting water from the rain. Even the river that originates from mountains, without the continuously supply from the rain, will dry up soon.
Water vapour needs cold air to form rain. Without crossing on the verge of death (Yamunā river) the wisdom (Sarasvatī river) is not complete. After that, there are still 7 more rivers to cross before reaching the Arabian Sea.
Rain is the preserver of life and Viṣṇu is the "Preserver" in the Hindu trinity. Śiva, who first taught the science of Haṭha Yoga, is known as the Primeval Lord who destroys one’s ego. Both Śiva and Viṣṇu are praised a lot in Yoga sacred texts as they show us the way towards happiness (Ānanda). In Yoga tradition, saints will use deity names as their spiritual name as they would like to connect to the same consciousness as these deities.
Swami Vishunudevaa naandaa is a disciple of Swami Shivaananda. They use their own actions to teach us that “Health is wealth! Peace of mind is happiness! Yoga shows the way.”
Om bhagavān Śri bhagavān Ānanda bhagavān Sivānanda bhagavān
Om bhagavān Śri bhagavān Ānanda bhagavān Viṣṇudevānanda bhagavān
Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā
To invoke the energy of Tara, the Tibetan goddess of compassion and protection. Tara represents the very essence of loving devotion.
It is said that Tara is from two tears of Avalokiteśvara (观音) in his sorrow of the pain of circular mundane existence (saṃsāra).
Tears – the Dew of Essences
An ancient Chinese poem says,
“Spring silkworms spin thread out till death. Burning candles weep till no more tears are left. (春蚕到死丝方尽,蜡炬成灰泪始干) ”
Tears from a person with loving-kindness cleanses our heart and removes impurities. As long as we have compassion for another’s pain, and we still have tears for another’s sorrow, the tears can purify not only our Self but anyone who is touched by seeing the tears.
These tears are far more precious than any jewels in the world. They are like dew in the desert that gives the thirsty explorer the strength of living. The journey for health and happiness is full of tears, the tears of our pain and suffering, and for others pain and suffering. Because of these tears, we keep searching, searching for the source of happiness. A journey beyond health and happiness.
Mantra
Mantras are suggested to be applied in Yin Yoga practice, either by listening or chanting; either in the mind or out loud. A mantra doesn’t have to be in Sanskrit. It can be in any language we know, but mantra is a Sanskrit word.
Even if we don’t know the meaning of a Sanskrit mantra, the energy which exists in the mantra as sound vibration will work directly. It’s like, a mother’s lullaby can put a little baby to sleep, even though the baby doesn’t understand the meaning of the words.
Om Jaya Gaṅge Maiyyā Maiyyā Jaya Gaṅge Mātā
Oh Mother Gaṅgā, Victory to you Divine Mother.
Gaṅgā is “swift-goer”. It is considered sacred and regarded as the river of purification.
River – the Cradle of Civilization
The cradles of civilization are all related to rivers, such as Ganges, Indus river, Yellow river, Yangtze river, the river Nile, the Tigris and the Euphrates.
The river Ganges, begins in the eastern Himalaya, and flows through Northern Indian towards the east. Living on Mount Kailās in the Himālaya range, Lord Śiva is depicted as wearing a crescent moon in his hair and the river Ganges (Gaṅgā) flowing from his hair.
Gaṅgā is related to Iḍā Nāḍī, the Soma or Chandra (moon) Nāḍī. Iḍā Nāḍī corresponds to the sympathetic nervous system, which allows the body to function under stress.
Gaṅgā river is personified and considered as the eldest daughter of Himavat. Himavat means a snowy mountain; the himālaya; kailāsa.
Kālī Kālī, Mahā Māyā, Namo Kālīke Namo Namaha
We honour Kālī for her ability to create the illusion of this world of forms. By her grace this veil will be removed, and we will directly behold the glorious vision of Divine presence.
Kālī means night, a black or dark-blue colour. Kālī also is a name of the Divine mother. Māyā means illusion, unreality.
Deep Pool – the Hidden Mystery
In summer the heat is the main source of disease. In a hot summer we enjoy the night and the cool water. Clear water in the swimming pool is transparent, but a deep pool in the mountain is dark-blue that cannot be seen through. It cools our body and calms our mind.
A deep pool is hidden deep in the mountain. Don’t wait for happiness to come like the prince in the story of Cinderella. Go out and search! For places where magnificent clothing and carts are the pass to get it, without the helping hand from the fairy Godmother, the prince could not have met Cinderella. Don’t just look to outside appearance, look into the heart!
Om Śakti, Om Śakti, Om Śakti Om, ādhi Śakti, Mahā Śakti, Parā Śakti Om
We praise Divine energy in all its forms; she is primal, great, and supreme.
Śakti means “power, ability, strength, might, effort, energy, capability.” Śakti is the primordial cosmic energy and is the personification of Divine feminine power.
Waterfall – the Power of Water
Tumbling from the high cliff, the waterfall descends straight to the deep pool. The more gap between the top and bottom, the more powerful the waterfall. When the river Gaṅgā was going to leave heaven and come down to Earth, she could wipe out everything in her path. To avoid the destruction on Earth, Lord Śiva takes Gaṅgā river on his head and lets Gaṅgā river flow from his hair.
The mind tends to follow a certain pattern; after a while we will form a certain way of thinking that is hard to break. A strong impact from outside will force us to break the pattern. That is why it is said “Affliction is Bodhi.” Suffering that we experience is a way to attain illuminated or enlightened intellect.
Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ Hrih
The jewel in the lotus.
Maṇi means pearls, gems, jewels. Padma means a lotus (especially the flower of the lotus-plant which closes towards evening). Hrih, “is the catalyst that activates the compassion of the Buddhas to transform our negative emotions into their wisdom nature.”
Lake – the Gem of the Earth
The Tibetan Plateau is known for its pure and fresh air and it is the place that is closest to heaven. On the Tibetan Plateau there are thousands of lakes that collect water from the melting ice and snow. The surrounding environment gives whole support for the lake. A lake in a city cannot compare to a lake on the Tibetan Plateau as the city lake loses its fresh water supply from the environment.
In Tibet, Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ is pronounced Om Mani Peme Hung. We can see this mantra everywhere: temples, mountains, rocks, houses, flags. This mantra embodies the compassion and blessing of all the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and invokes especially the blessing of Avalokiteśvara, the Buddha of Compassion. In Chinese, Avalokiteśvara is 观音, which literally means “observe the sound.”
Kālī Durgāyai Namo Namaḥ
Salutations to the Divine Mother in Her Forms as Kālī and Durgā.
Kālī means night, a black or dark-blue colour. Durgā is the name of the daughter of Himavat (King of snowy mountains), the inaccessible or terrifying goddess.
Snow and Ice – Solid Water
The cover of snow and ice gives the earth and plants a time to rest. Winter is the season when things are concealed and is the coldest season of the year. The cold is caused by the axis of the earth in the hemisphere being oriented away from the sun.
Kālī means night, black. The darkness is because of absence of light, like at night, or the result of complete absorption of light, like a black hole. The fear of death is the real root cause of stress, suffering and misery in our life. To understand death helps us let go of the fear of death. The face of death might be fearful, but if it can urge us to start the journey for health and happiness, then we can become fearless and have courage to face death at the end of life. As Rumi says,
The wound is the place where the light enters you.
Spiritual knowledge is the light, seek the light! Pray to the one who holds the light!
Asoto Mā Sad Gamaya Lead me from the unreal to the real.
Tamaso Mā Jyotir Gamaya From darkness to light.
Mṛyor Mā Amṛtaṃ Gamaya From mortality to immortality.
iman me gange yamune saraswati sutudri stomagum sacata parusniya
asikniya marudvrdhe vitastayarjikiye srnuhya susomaya
This is a hymn from Rigveda (the Nadistuti sukta). This hymn includes 10 rivers which originate from the Tibetan Plateau, beginning with the Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Sarasvatī and moving westward. Nadī means a river, flowing water.
Rain – the Preserver of Life
From space, the Earth looks blue because the surface of Earth is mostly water. All life depends on water. About 70% of the human body is made up of water and more than 70% of the Earth’s surface is water-covered. Water creates an environment that sustains and nurtures plants, animals and humans.
Even though 70% of the Earth is covered by water, most of it is in the ocean and cannot be used for drinking as it is salty water. The water cycle in nature can transfer the salty ocean water to fresh water. Rain is the product of the cycle. And the river is collecting water from the rain. Even the river that originates from mountains, without the continuously supply from the rain, will dry up soon.
Water vapour needs cold air to form rain. Without crossing on the verge of death (Yamunā river) the wisdom (Sarasvatī river) is not complete. After that, there are still 7 more rivers to cross before reaching the Arabian Sea.
Rain is the preserver of life and Viṣṇu is the "Preserver" in the Hindu trinity. Śiva, who first taught the science of Haṭha Yoga, is known as the Primeval Lord who destroys one’s ego. Both Śiva and Viṣṇu are praised a lot in Yoga sacred texts as they show us the way towards happiness (Ānanda). In Yoga tradition, saints will use deity names as their spiritual name as they would like to connect to the same consciousness as these deities.
Swami Vishunudevaa naandaa is a disciple of Swami Shivaananda. They use their own actions to teach us that “Health is wealth! Peace of mind is happiness! Yoga shows the way.”
Om bhagavān Śri bhagavān Ānanda bhagavān Sivānanda bhagavān
Om bhagavān Śri bhagavān Ānanda bhagavān Viṣṇudevānanda bhagavān
Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā
To invoke the energy of Tara, the Tibetan goddess of compassion and protection. Tara represents the very essence of loving devotion.
It is said that Tara is from two tears of Avalokiteśvara (观音) in his sorrow of the pain of circular mundane existence (saṃsāra).
Tears – the Dew of Essences
An ancient Chinese poem says,
“Spring silkworms spin thread out till death. Burning candles weep till no more tears are left. (春蚕到死丝方尽,蜡炬成灰泪始干) ”
Tears from a person with loving-kindness cleanses our heart and removes impurities. As long as we have compassion for another’s pain, and we still have tears for another’s sorrow, the tears can purify not only our Self but anyone who is touched by seeing the tears.
These tears are far more precious than any jewels in the world. They are like dew in the desert that gives the thirsty explorer the strength of living. The journey for health and happiness is full of tears, the tears of our pain and suffering, and for others pain and suffering. Because of these tears, we keep searching, searching for the source of happiness. A journey beyond health and happiness.