In principle, becoming a pandita (highly learned brahmana) is not so difficult - you just need to remember and be able to accurately reproduce about 40 thousand words of ancient Sanskrit texts, which Europeans call mantras. (Some researchers and apologists of Hinduism believe that the optimal number for achieving enlightenment is mastering 100 thousand mantras.)
The author of the study noted an increase in cognitive functions with the mastery of Sanskrit.
As a true European, James Hartsell did not limit himself to personal positive experience, but attracted to the study quite objective indicators on MRI scans of the brain of both pandits and ordinary citizens.
The study found that the brains of the pandits had 10 percent more gray matter in both hemispheres of the brain, which is responsible for thinking functions, in addition, the thickness of this layer was much higher compared to the controls.
But the most striking result of the study was an unprecedented increase in the right hippocampus (75 percent!) In pandits. It, according to scientists, is responsible for memorizing verbal constructions with all intonations, coding and sound reproduction.
Many functions of both short-term and long-term memory, according to scientists, are evenly distributed across both regions of the hippocampus. In this sense, the study refutes conventional wisdom, which can serve as a basis for additional research.
It is curious that Ayurvedic doctors note a small percentage of Alzheimer's disease in pandits, who, as a rule, reach a very respectable age.
(It seems that apart from doing tantra yoga, it's time to start learning Sanskrit too …)
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