Sanskrit for Children with Special Need
Although I am not a therapist by profession, I am deeply interested in addressing the subject of children with special learning needs. This is because of my study of Sanskrit, which is a highly systematic and scientific language. My research into the deeper phonetic values of the language inspired me to work with a few autistic children and I found that my insight into the language really has been beneficial to these children in terms of the progress in their learning/ communication skills.
In my village we have a boy who doctors had diagnosed as having autism. He would exhibit extremely volatile behavioural patterns, poor communication and language skills, and had hardly any proprioceptive sense. When he was eleven years old, he was given the sacred thread (being a child born in a Brahmin family), and thus was initiated into the life of a brahmachari. He was taught the famous Gayatri Mantra, which was repeated into his ear several hundred times. Slowly, he started reciting it. Now, whatever he speaks, others can understand; he communicates and understands things properly. Though a bit slow, he is not looked upon as a burden anymore.
This incident inspired me to explore further into the subject of how Sanskrit can help children with special learning needs. Whenever I come across any such child, I suggest to the parents that they initiate the child into the Sanskrit language. My experience confirms that in Sanskrit there is a sure remedy. As a non-professional therapist, I have Sanskrit to offer to children who have special learning needs.
I have observed that children with such needs are not in rhythmic harmony with patterns of the external, physical world we live in. That kills all the vitality that they need to live in a social structure. I believe that once they are made conscious of the rhythm that they have to live in harmony with, the problem of impaired communication and social interaction would dissolve. Sanskrit, being a highly rhythmic language, helps immensely in making them conscious of that rhythm. My observation confirms that it is extremely rare to find a child having learning challenges from a Gurukul where the Sanskrit tradition is alive.
There are several reasons how and why the Sanskrit mantras work to treat autism and related learning disabilities, of which one of the most important reasons is the scientific nature of the language. The Sanskrit language is based upon a clear understanding of the science of sound. The sounds here contain many secrets in how they are pronounced and impact our vocal cords and nervous system. In a deeper sense, each sound, as it were, strikes a different chord within us. Sanskrit has an amazing system of sounds in its alphabet. It is truly amazing to see how the ancient Indians scrutinized and experimented with the vocal instrument and the structure of the mouth and then selected only those sounds which had the greatest clarity, wholesomeness and power of resonance; they then organized these sounds in such a way that they could mutually enhance and brighten one another, and build upon each other’s resonance.
Another reason is the rhythm, melody and musicality of the language. The purity of the vibration of the sounds as well as the mantric force of Sanskrit contributes substantially towards the effectiveness of the language. The mere chanting and reciting of a set of mantras or shlokas resonates in the very being of the child, and along with the vibrational purity and musicality of the language, the child can bring back the rhythm which he has lost (or did not have to begin with) . The musical and rhythmic beauty of this language, its power of expression, the purity and vibration of its sounds, the eternal relationship between its words and senses, all these have made Sanskrit a wonderful language which, like a Mantra, has the power to uplift and illumine and enlighten. Sanskrit, indeed, is a perfect harmonizer that harmonizes the body, mind and soul. It leads to true happiness and fills the heart and mind with a perfect sense of immortality. And this aspect of the Sanskrit is prominently found in the various Chandas.
In a deeper sense chandas are universal by nature and they connect us with the universal rhythmic movement. Chandas are not just confined to poetry but are all pervading. One can experience the chandas in the falling of a dry leaf, in a piece of art work, in music, in dance, in sculpture and in various aspects of the nature. The small patterns that we see in poetry, in music, in dance, in sculpture or in nature, are all representatives of a great cosmic meter that holds and sustains the creation. It is through these different patterns that one can grow conscious of the cosmic meter which helps making life Chandomaya, full of rhythmic beauty.
The purity of the sounds of Sanskrit draws us, inspires us, and constantly reminds us of the true aim of our life, makes us conscious of the Truth that exists within us. The rhythmic beauty and melody of this language, vibrational purity of its sounds, richness of its phonetic quality, transparency of its root-sounds and their senses, richness of its vocabularies and thought contents, all these have made Sanskrit truly great.
I am convinced that Sanskrit with its scientific design, rhythmic beauty, power of high resonance and mantric force can be used as a perfect tool for helping the children with special need in bringing them back to normalcy.
