Do not make these 6 mistakes while reciting during worship!

You should not make these 6 mistakes while reciting during worship. Otherwise, you will not receive the full benefits. It is even possible that you may get the opposite result. The glory of reciting Chalisa, Stotra, and various rituals described in the scriptures is absolutely true. But we must perform the recitation with the complete procedure and proper rules. Along with this, we must also keep in mind what is prohibited and avoid it completely. Only then will we receive the full benefit. These 6 mistakes should never be made while reciting. Doing them results in receiving only limited benefits.

According to a verse in our scriptures, “Gīti śīghrī śiraḥ kampī, tathā likhita pāṭhakaḥ। Anarthajño’lpa kaṇṭhaśca, ṣaḍe te pāṭhakādhamāḥ॥” These six mistakes should never be made by anyone while reciting. The scriptures describe these six types of reciters as inferior. If even one of these six faults is present in your recitation, you will not receive the full benefit.

1. Gīti
2. Śīghrī
3. Śiraḥ Kampī
4. Likhita Pāṭhakaḥ
5. Anarthajña
6. Alpakaṇṭha

While reading any verse or chaupai, inconsistency in tone creates faults in the recitation. When a verse or chaupai is sung very fast or very slow, the rhythm gets disturbed, and the effect of the mantra may decrease or even become contrary. Therefore, maintaining uniformity in recitation is essential. Keep the same rhythm, a consistent tone, and a clear sound. Pay attention to the beat and pronunciation, and keep your mind focused. Recitation done with discipline, controlled speed, and a steady tone yields pure results. This is proven through experience.

One should never recite any verse or chaupai in a hurry or by reading it too quickly. This is improper. The power of mantras lies in their words, rhythm, and the mental state of the devotee; when recited too fast, the pronunciation becomes unclear, and the meaning is lost. This can weaken the effect of the recitation or even reverse it. Therefore, one should sit calmly and read with proper pronunciation, understanding of the meaning, and devotional focus. Slow, clear, and thoughtful recitation alone yields pure results; hurried recitation does not open the path to righteous outcomes. Reading slowly and with understanding creates a much greater impact.

Reciting while moving the head or body is also considered a fault. Doing so prevents the body’s energy from remaining steady, and the stability of energy is very important in worship, recitation, or any ritual. The rule is that the body should not move at all. Even if there is an itch, it should be tolerated. By doing so, the body’s energy remains stable, which helps elevate both the mental and spiritual levels.

One should not read a text written by oneself. In earlier times, this practice existed so that people would gift stotras to each other. By doing so, everyone would receive the spiritual merit of donating sacred hymns. Do you know? The donation of stotras holds great significance. It is said that by donating the Ganesh Atharvashirsha to eight Brahmins, a person becomes as radiant as the Sun.

Not exploring or understanding the meaning while reciting is also considered a fault. This is because without understanding the meaning, the required devotional emotion does not arise. Without the awakening of this inner feeling (bhāva), one cannot receive complete spiritual benefit. Therefore, we should recite only after understanding the meaning, or along with the meaning, so that the right emotion awakens and we receive the full result.

Reading in such a way that no one can understand—such as reciting only with the eyes or reciting silently in the mind—is also considered a fault. If you recite silently in your mind and someone speaks, your focus will be immediately disturbed. And if you recite so softly that no one can understand, it indicates fear or hesitation. Doing this can cause the verses to have an incorrect effect on you, resulting in reduced benefits or possibly even the opposite outcome.

In a small village, the wife of a priest fell seriously ill. The priest began reciting the Devi Kavach for her recovery. Despite his sincere efforts, his wife’s condition did not improve. With time, worry and despair began to grow in the priest’s heart.

One night, in anger and despair, he began questioning the Goddess: “I recite day and night, yet my wife is not recovering. What are you doing, O Divine Mother?” That night, he had a clear dream of the Goddess. In a calm voice, she said, “Pandit ji, you are placing the blame on me, but you have not paid attention to yourself.”

The Goddess explained that the line in the recitation is “Bhāryāṁ rakṣatu Bhairavī”, meaning, “O Bhairavi, protect my wife.” But you say “Bhāryāṁ bhakṣatu Bhairavī,” which means, “O Bhairavi, devour my wife.”

Remember, the words that come from your mouth create their own effects.
The Goddess said that even the deities must act according to the words uttered in your recitation. If there is any error in pronunciation, emotion, or the rules of recitation, the result can turn opposite.

The point is this: if we are not even aware whether we are reciting correctly or not, then it is impossible for us to receive the correct result.

• Distance between Earth and Sun Hanuman Chalisa