People used to come to brahmins,
Asking them to light huge fires
And do a big hom
After that, there was always rainfall
My mother used to say
It was the words they said
Calling on the rain gods
I scoffed at her
Words
Do not have so much power, mother
I said
They are mere words
I am now not so sure
****
I still wouldn't believe that
The brahmins' hom
Full of incantations
Chants calling upon the rain gods
Rhythmic rhyming singing
That went on for hours and hours
Were what caused the rain
And yet i think about
At all the chants they do
And wonder if they
Accomplish something
****
The chants of housewarming,
For example
Where they wish
Good health and prosperity
On the residents
Or of a marriage ceremony
Which wish the couple
Love health and happiness
I am sure they are effective
In some way
In showering good vibes
Upon those present
As opposed to, say
If nasty, negative words
Were spoken at the ceremony
If evil wishes were heaped on them
But then
Nobody understands the Sanskrit incantations
The words asking the heaven and earth
To bless them
Sending thanks and good wishes
To the plants and animals
And the air and firmament
Are the words effective
Because they have meaning
Or because they are said with good intentions?
Do the actual sounds have any impact?
Or could different sounds be made, with the same meaning?
For example if 'good' meant 'bad'
And 'bad' means 'good'
The sounds would have
No inherent meaning
But the intention with which they are said
Gives them meaning
So, what if the sounds are made
Without the good intentions
For example i wish someone
Happy birthday
Even though i don't want them
To have a happy day
Would the words
Still carry my good vibes across?
Or what if someone
Who doesn't know Sanskrit
Reads out the prayers
From a book
Would the words still carry
The same good vibes across?
If a curse is spoken
Without understanding the words
Would it still harm?
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