Bija Im (and Others!)

[Guest guest]

IM or "EEEEMMMMM" is the vaideeka pranava. Contrary to what many

believe, the more familiar AUM (or OM) does not appear in the

original Vedas. It originated in Yoga. Its source appears to be

Patanjali's Aphorisms, where you will find the saying, "That sound

is Pranava" -- i.e., that is the sound you hear when you do certain

hathayoga practices. I am told that this is the first reference to

AUM as pranava.

 

Now, if we accept your source's statement that "the bija IM is the

Devi herself," then it's at least arguable that we must accept Devi

as the fundamental principle and essence of all that is. This

assertion is, of course, completely in accordance with the

principles of Shaktism; indeed it is the bedrock of our system. But

at first glance many would object that it does not align with most

understandings of Vedism. I would point out, however, that the Vedas

can be read to support this idea, and I have written a bit on this

subject for the homepage; if you're interested, follow this link:

 

http://shaktisadhana.50megs.com/DEVI/lajjahGauri.html

 

AUM is nowhere in Shakta Tantra, where the bija of ParaShakthi is

the absolute highest. Beyond that is vaccuum. Para can be thought of

as female, as male, or as formless. She is highter than even

Mahaashodashi. That is therefore the single bija I would think of as

representing "Devi Herself." Many thanks to the person who taught me

these things.

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe

 

, akka_108 <akka_108>

wrote:

> I would like to know more about the bija mantra "Im".

>

> I have found this website: http://www.shivashakti.com/vijnan.htm

>

> When you move the courser on the red syllable on the left side,

there comes the text "the bija Im - the Devi herself".

>

> This is the first time that I come along the bija mantra "Im".

[Guest guest]

Wow, this is interesting! I wonder what would happen if I start

chanting "EEEEMMMMM" in yoga. Why, I wonder, did Patanjali

feel that hathayoga caused one to hear "Om" - could it

be...Satan??? ( I mean no offense - I'm playing! I just thought of

Dana Carvey, the comedian, and his Church Lady character!)

 

I have read, in a book about Yoga and Psychology co-authored

by Swami Rama (which I have quoted from on the message

board before) that A, U and M each represent/correspond to the 3

levels of brainwaves, Alpha, Beta and Delta. When I chant in

yoga class, I emphasize each letter sound as I move throughout

the chant, so it's never really just the "Om" sound. I wonder what

sound analysts and/or therapists would say about the power of

the different vowel sounds in the body, what kinds of vibrational

frequencies they create, how they resonate and why, etc.

If anyone has heard of such analysis, please post the info. If not,

I may look into this myself.

 

I just remembered one of the first songs I ever wrote called

"Sweet Note of E." I was referring to the actual musical note on

my guitar, however, I like how, at least for English speakers, the

"E" sounds like "EEEEEE" and I am connecting it here with the

bija mantra "Im." Here are the lyrics:

 

Sweet note of "E"

Is a field, is a sea

Someone turned and leaned

And said to me

What does it mean?

No matter what you sing

A field won't bring you anything

And you can't stay afloat

On a sea without a boat.

 

But I said:

Sweet note of "E"

Is a field, a sea.

 

Everything I believe

Is true, is true to me.

Someone turned and leaned

And said to me

What do you mean!?

If you believed that up was down

Then every smile would be a frown

And you'd believe that you could fly

Because the ground would be the sky

 

And I said:

Sweet note of "E"

Is a field, is a sea

And everything I believe

Is truth, is true to me.

 

Mary Ann

 

, "Devi Bhakta"

<devi_bhakta> wrote:

> IM or "EEEEMMMMM" is the vaideeka pranava. Contrary to what

many

> believe, the more familiar AUM (or OM) does not appear in the

> original Vedas. It originated in Yoga. Its source appears to be

> Patanjali's Aphorisms, where you will find the saying, "That

sound

> is Pranava" -- i.e., that is the sound you hear when you do

certain

> hathayoga practices. I am told that this is the first reference to

> AUM as pranava.

>

> Now, if we accept your source's statement that "the bija IM is

the

> Devi herself," then it's at least arguable that we must accept

Devi

> as the fundamental principle and essence of all that is. This

> assertion is, of course, completely in accordance with the

> principles of Shaktism; indeed it is the bedrock of our system.

But

> at first glance many would object that it does not align with

most

> understandings of Vedism. I would point out, however, that the

Vedas

> can be read to support this idea, and I have written a bit on this

> subject for the homepage; if you're interested, follow this link:

>

> http://shaktisadhana.50megs.com/DEVI/lajjahGauri.html

>

> AUM is nowhere in Shakta Tantra, where the bija of

ParaShakthi is

> the absolute highest. Beyond that is vaccuum. Para can be

thought of

> as female, as male, or as formless. She is highter than even

> Mahaashodashi. That is therefore the single bija I would think

of as

> representing "Devi Herself." Many thanks to the person who

taught me

> these things.

>

> Aum Maatangyai Namahe

>

> , akka_108

<akka_108>

> wrote:

> > I would like to know more about the bija mantra "Im".

> >

> > I have found this website:

http://www.shivashakti.com/vijnan.htm

> >

> > When you move the courser on the red syllable on the left

side,

> there comes the text "the bija Im - the Devi herself".

> >

> > This is the first time that I come along the bija mantra "Im".