Reading Sanskrit Improves Brain FunctioningReading Sanskrit Improves Brain Functioningby Brynne SissomThe physiological effects of reading Sanskrit aresimilar to those experienced during the TranscendentalMeditation® technique, according to research recentlycompleted by Dr. Fred Travis, director of theERG/psychophysiology lab of Maharishi University ofManagement in Fairfield, Iowa, USA.Dr. Travis asked his test subjects to read passagesfrom the Bhagavad-Gita in Sanskrit and in modernforeign languages (Spanish, French, or German). Ineach case they could pronounce the sounds but did notknow the meaning. He measured brain wave patterns(ERG), heart and breath rate, and galvanic skinresistance during two reading sessions and during a15-minute session of the Transcendental Meditationtechnique.He found that while they read Sanskrit theirphysiology was similar to those measured during theTranscendental Meditation technique, but significantlydifferent from reading a modern language.Their skin resistance steadily increased duringreading Sanskrit and during practice of theTranscendental Meditation technique (showing greaterstability in their physiology) but remained the sameduring the reading of a modern language.Their ERG alpha power and coherence during readingSanskrit were also similar to that during the practiceof the Transcendental Meditation technique, and bothof these were higher than when the subjects read amodern language.Dr. Travis said that these findings supportMaharishi's predictions on the effects of readingSanskrit. Maharishi, in Vedic Knowledge for Everyone,predicted that reading the Vedic Literature as itflows and progresses in perfect sequential order hasthe effect of regulating and balancing the functioningof the brain physiology and training consciousness,the mind, to always flow in perfect accordance withthe evolutionary direction of Natural Law.Dr. Travis found the similarity of physiology duringreading Sanskrit and the Transcendental Meditationtechnique is especially noteworthy because one readswith his or her eyes open and engages in activeperceptual and cognitive processes, while theTranscendental Meditation technique is done with one'seyes closed and entails a reduction of mentalactivity. This suggests that the state gained duringthe practice of the Transcendental Meditationtechnique may be integrated with active mentalprocesses by reading Sanskrit.Dr. Travis said, "The Transcendental Meditationtechnique takes the awareness to pure consciousness atthe source of thought. Seeing similar patterns ofphysiology during reading Sanskrit as during theTranscendental Meditation technique suggests thatreading Sanskrit enlivens pure consciousness at thesource of thought and integrates that state withreading and speaking. In short, while practice of theTranscendental Meditation technique locates pureconsciousness, leading to the state of TranscendentalConsciousness, reading Sanskrit integrates innersilence with outer activity, helping to cultivateenlightenment."Hare Krishna
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