Spiritual Science: How Mantras Work Like Code for the Soul
What happens when you chant a mantra 900,000 times in solitude? Dr. Vigneshwar Bhat knows. This week on the Finding Harmony Podcast, Harmony sits down with one of her beloved teachers to explore the deep wisdom of the Vedas, the science behind mantra, and the importance of ritual precision in spiritual life. Dr. Bhat, a Vedic priest and PhD in Mimamsa Philosophy, shares his journey from a remote village in Karnataka to founding the Rishikulam International Center for Vedic Studies and Research.
We talk about how mantra works on a physiological and energetic level, what most people get wrong about chanting, and how fatherhood has become his greatest teacher. Whether you’re a seasoned yoga practitioner or someone who’s just beginning to explore the sacred roots of yoga, this episode is filled with insight, humility, and a call to deepen your practice.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- What the “limbs” of ritual are—and why they matter
- The role of breath, vibration, and precision in mantra
- Why modern yoga sometimes misses the point
- The spiritual significance of fire rituals
- The importance of selfless practice and collective benefit
- What Dr. Bhat learned from a 900,000-repetition mantra practice
- Parenting as spiritual practice
Guest Bio:
Dr. Vigneshwar Bhat is a distinguished Vedic priest and scholar with a PhD in Mimamsa Philosophy from Tirupati Sanskrit University. He has authored more than 200 papers and books on Indian philosophy, temple architecture, ritual psychology, and Vedic chanting. His institute, the Rishikulam International Center for Vedic Studies and Research, serves as a hub for deep spiritual inquiry rooted in tradition and lived wisdom.
Relevant Links:
- Dr. Bhat’s Book The Splendor of Mantra: Amazon India |US Amazon
- Learn about the Rishikulam International Center for Vedic Studies and Research: https://rushikulam.com/
- Harmony’s Inner Circle Mentorship: harmonyslater.com/mentorship
Call to Action:
Want to go deeper into your yoga practice? Join Harmony’s Inner Circle mentorship to study pranayama, Vedic mantra, and yoga philosophy in community. Learn more at harmonyslater.com/mentorship.
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Harmony Slater
Finding Harmony Host / Coach / Spiritual Wellness Teacher
Harmony Slater is a Spiritual Wellness Coach whose mission is to support spiritually-curious entrepreneurs with “science-backed woo” to create a deeply fulfilling life and a business they love.
She's a National Board Certified Health Coach, Certified in both Quantum Coaching and in the Mastery Coaching Methods. She's also Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher, one of less than 20 women in the world to hold this honour, after training in India for 15 years.
She began travelling to East Asia in 2002 to study Buddhism, after completing two degrees in Philosophy and Eastern Religious Studies. In 2004, I began a life-long love affair with India, spending the next 15 years living there for extended periods of time immerse in Yoga practice, Vipassana meditation, Ayurveda, and Philosophy.
For the past 20+ years Harmony's been focused on sharing these deeper teachings + practices of multidimensional wellness to support women around the world in eliminating midlife burnout + restoring joy, to create a life and wellness business that nourishes both their soul and bank account. She's taught workshops and retreats in over 30 different countries.
She’s the host of the Finding Harmony Podcast, an active Board Member for the non-profit organization Yoga Gives Back, and has been featured in two anthologies on yoga, pregnancy, and motherhood in: ‘Yoga Sadhana for Mothers’ and ‘Strength and Grace: A collection of Essays by Women of Ashtanga Yoga.’
Dr Vigneshwar Bhat
Professor
Dr. Vigneshwar Bhat is a renowned philosopher, spiritual luminary, and eminent scholar of Sanskrit and Indian philosophy, whose life’s mission is to preserve, interpret, and disseminate the profound wisdom of Vedic tradition, mantra-śāstra, and ancient Indian knowledge systems. Holding dual master’s degrees in Sanskrit and Philosophy, and a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Karma Mīmāṁsā, Dr. Bhat stands as an authoritative voice across Śrauta, Smārta, Tāntrik, and Purāṇic streams of Indian spiritual literature.
Having undergone rigorous training in the traditional Gurukula system, Dr. Bhat embodies the fusion of age-old lineage-based wisdom with modern research methodologies. He is the founder and guiding force behind Rushikulam – International Centre for Indic Studies and Research, a sanctuary for seekers and scholars alike to engage deeply with Vedic studies, Tantric wisdom, Sanskrit chanting, rituals, Yoga, and Dharmaśāstra.
As the Director of Samhithaa Trust and Sādhanagaṅgā LLP, he is continuously contributing to the philosophical and spiritual enrichment of society. A former Assistant Professor at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Mysuru, he has been a sought-after speaker at international conferences and has addressed audiences across the globe on subjects ranging from Indian philosophy and Yogic traditions to cultural heritage and scriptural sciences.
Dr. Bhat has authored more than 200 research papers, books, and scholarly articles in prestigious journals and volumes. His celebrated works include Mīmāṁsākāradīpikā, Agastya, and The Splendor of Mantra, each of which…
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