Chanting (e.g.,
mantra,
sacred text, the
name of God/Spirit, etc.) is a commonly used
spiritual practice. Like
prayer, chanting may be a component of either personal or group practice. Diverse spiritual traditions consider chant a route to
spiritual development. Some examples include chant in
African,
Hawaiian,
Native American,
Assyrian and Australian Aboriginal cultures,
Gregorian chant,
Vedic chant,
Quran reading,
Islamic Dhikr,
Baháʼí chants, various
Buddhist chants, various
mantras,
Jewish cantillation,
Epicurean repetition of the Kyriai Doxai, and the chanting of
psalms and prayers especially in
Roman Catholic (see
Gregorian chant or
Taizé Community),
Eastern Orthodox (see
Byzantine chant or
Znamenny chant, for examples),
Lutheran, and
Anglican churches (see
Anglican Chant). Historical or mythological examples include chant in
Germanic paganism. Chant practices vary. In the
Theravada tradition, chanting is usually done in
Pali, and mainly from
Pāli Canon.
Tibetan Buddhist chant involves
throat singing, where multiple pitches are produced by each performer. The concept of chanting
mantras is of particular significance in many
Hindu traditions and other closely related
Indian religions. India's bhakti devotional tradition centers on
kirtan, which has a following in many countries and traditions such as
Ananda Marga. The
Hare Krishna movement is based especially on the chanting of
Sanskrit Names of God in the
Vaishnava tradition and is sung from the
Dan tien (or lower abdomen)—the locus of power in
Eastern traditions. ==See also==