My experiences with the Gayathri Manthra.

Sandhya vandhanam - a nithya karma.Nothing new.Have been performing daily for the past five years and will continue to do so.So whats the point?
Well, I just revisited the art of chanting the Gayathri Manthra.(Nothing new actually).This is what my vadhiyaar told us -"This is how a person is made to chant Gayathri Manthra properly.First he is told to chant Gayathri Manthra when he does it audibly.Then he does it with his mouth closed and without the movement of his lips.Then he is told not to move his tongue.
Now it is impossible to chant without utmost concentration .After some time the person sees that he has digressed and he is moving his tongue.This also takes your mind off it.Then you make a conscious effort to chant in the prescribed fashion. "
A very simple technique and I suppose must be quite well known to all who perform Sandhyavandhanam.
So, I tried this simple method the following velai. First of all it takes some effort to chant without the movement of the tongue.Then I saw that it was tough to chant mentally as the gratification when the 'r' consonant is uttered was not received . So I had to check the way I chanted each part of the manthra.So my entire concentration was directed towards it.This was quite mentally exhausting.After some time I found out that I was back to square one and was moving my tongue. So I again corrected myself.I found myself drifted and again corrected myself.
Now I found that when I corrected myself I was able to say the manthra at a constant pace.No more no less.I also found that my breathing had become regulated and was breathing once for chanting the manthra twice.This regulated breathing is what I guess people refer to when meditating.It is achieved ever so easily when we do our sandhi.
The immense sense of happiness I received later cannot be aptly put in words. Though many might say that what I felt was delusional but I did feel subtle vibrations in me.Though I was a bit mentally tired .The process was a pleasure in itself.
Now I think that the reason for 10 pranayamams before we start the chanting is for the same purpose of regulated breathing and to make the ordeal simpler and the chanting process more fruitful.
So anyone who thinks that doing sandhyavandhanam and chanting Gayathri is not increasing their level of concentration in studies may perform the above mentioned.The results are for you to see.