HRIM: The AUM of Shaktism?

[Guest guest]

Bhuvaneshwari's primary Mantra, as others have already mentioned

here, is HRIM. Because this is arguably the single most important

Mantra in Shaktism, I would like to discuss it here briefly, and

alert our members to its elemental importance.

 

HRIM (also known as the "Hrillekhaa") is considered, by many Shaktas,

the most important Mantra of all -- what the primal AUM or OM (also

called the "Pranava") is to other forms of Hinduism, HRIM is to

Shaktism. Indeed, it is said that ANY form of the Goddess can be

worshiped using the Bija ("Seed") Mantra HRIM, but that it belongs

particularly to Bhuvaneshvari.

 

The "Mahanirvana Tantra" (9.9-10) states that AUM used to be the

Pranava to intone before all other Mantras during the first three

world ages, which were more pure than our modern age. In the present,

degenerate Kali Yuga, however, HRIM is now considered a more powerful

and efficacious means of attaining the fruits of Mantra recitation

[Japa]. The Sanskrit and Hinduism scholar C. M. Brown notes

that, "Hrim is referred to, in fact, as the Tantric Pranava." But in

practice, HRIM and AUM co-exist, sharing the same sort of equality as

Shakti and Shiva -- who are, metaphysically speaking, simply two

sides of the same coin.

 

Just as AUM is the sonic essence of Shiva (who, according to

Shaktism, is merely the Masculine/Transcendent manifestation of

Shakti), HRIM is "the sonic essence of the World Mother,

reverberating throughout the universe and within the hearts of

beings, uniting all opposites in peace and harmony," to again quote

Brown.

 

Such cosmic and salvific meanings are embedded in the very structure

of the syllable itself, in its letters and parts, according to

esoteric Tantric explanations. The practitioner recites the Bija in

vain unless s/he knows these hidden meanings, which vary depending on

the Tantra you refer to. For example:

 

HR = to carry away

I = to shine; to pervade

 

Therefore, HRIM represents the Mother who "shines in" or "pervades"

he heart of all beings, "carrying away" their pain (from

Brooks, "Auspicious Wisdom," p. 103). Or try this one:

 

H = Shiva

R = Prakriti

I = Mahamaya

M (nasal resonance) = Mother of the Universe

 

That interpretation comes from the Varada Tantra, as quoted and

translated in Woodroffe's "Garland of Letters," p. 244. There are

others. For the Goddess's own explanation, as attributed to Her in

the Devi Gita, see my next post.

 

(Continued ...)