Mantra Recitation - Part - 2

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Mantra Recitation - Part 2

Anbil Ramaswamy

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"Mantra combines the old Vedic root `man' to think with the element `tra' to

indicate `kra' a suffix meaning instrumentality. Both mantra and sandhyaabasa

are cryptic, esoteric utterances deliberately unintelligible to the

uninitiated. Of the 70 million mantras, some contain bizarre and

unintelligible phonemes like `hrim', hram', `hrum', `phat' etc. But, 'OM' -is

the most sacred of all belonging to a special class as `m' and `n' which

unlike most consonants can be sustained as long drawn out humming sounds.

 

"The Bijakshara" (the seed Mantra) bestows great benefits on being repeated.

The Moolamantra (the root Mantra) is a.k.a.Pranavam or OM or the Akshara or

Ekakshara and is the most powerful and can bestow unimaginable benevolence on

the person uttering it. There are a number of shorter Mantras. Even

exclamations used during sacrificial rituals are regarded as Mantras

though of less significance- svast fortune; samyoh: all hail; svadha:

oblation, svaha: offering; vashat: Bravo, phat: crack (a weapon used to drive

off evil spirits)

 

The Sanskrit `O' is a `diphtong' and is a contraction of A and U when

pronounced quickly result in the sound O. With `m' it gives the whole the

sound of " OM"

 

There are also a number of specific Mantras which are believed to confer

special benefits apart from the moolamantra (brahmabija) which alone leads

to realization, to liberation from bondage and attainment of Moksha

1.'AIM" (Vak bija): for acquiring knowledge and wisdom, mastery over words,

powers of speech

2.'HRIM' (Saktibija) for conquest of the unmanifest, of the power of nature,

going beyond the constraints of time and space.

3.'SRIM" (Laksmi bija) for gaining worldly wealth, power, beauty, glory

4."KLIM" (Kaama bija) for gaining transcendent knowledge, pleasure, victory,

royal power etc.,

5."KRIM" (Aadhya bija) for gaining detachment, power over death, transcendent

knowledge

6."YAM"=Air Items 6 to 10 are the sacred Mantras relating to the

elements

7"LAM"=Earth They are used in performing NYASA (Consecration of the

8."RAM"=Fire various parts of the body to the deity presiding

over them

9"VAM"=Water corresponding element -- a kind of relating the human

10. "HAM"= Ether with the elemental cosmology

11.PARASAKTI BIJA- for acquiring supreme energy

12.KHECHARI BIJA- for flying through the void

13.GAYATRI BIJA - for acquiring and protecting vital energies

14.KRODA SANTI BIJA- for calming of anger

15.AGNI PRAJVALANA BIJA- for kindling fire

16.NIDRA STAMBANA BIJA- for preventing sleep

17.PANCHAKSHARA- for invoking Siva with his 5 lettered mantra

18. PANCHADASI- the 15 syllable Mantra of the primordial Goddess.

And, many more like Brahma Gayatri, Brahma Mantra, Mantra Raja, Rudra Mantra

and special Mantras for preventing misfortune most of which are found in

Atarva Veda.

(To continue)

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