Mantra Recitation - Part - 1

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Dear Bhagavatas,

May I add a few thoughts on Mantra recitation now being discussed?

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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Mantra Recitation - Part 1:

 

`MANTRA' - `Mananath Thrayathe iti Mantraha' - That which protects by being

remembered and recited. It consists of the silent recitation (japa) of a

sacred formula repeated indefinitely. A mystic recitation that invokes the

desired deities and establishes a spiritual relationship with them. It has the

effect of quieting the mind and integrating the gross bodies with the divine-

educing the latent spiritual experiences (sukshma) into the realm of the

patent.(stula)

 

Though `Mantra' is generally defined as a `formula comprising words and sounds

which possess a magical or divine power' no single definition can adequately

express its significance. It is a verbal instrument which possesses power. A

word or formula which represents a mental presence or energy; by it something

is employed to denote this magic power possessed by words when they are

brought together in a formula.

 

May be the word `spell' partly explains the meaning of `mantra.' Sound as we

know creates vibration. Mantras have been `recovered' from ether through

vibrations set in motion by the meditation of Rishis. The utterance of

`Mantras' unleash a force of nature vivid and vibrant, effective and

efficacious. And, such `Mantra' came to be regarded as an entity by itself

(e.g.), Gayatri mantra is regarded as a personification of Gayatri - the word

means "Gayantam trayate iti gayatri" - the one who protects the one who sings

(utters) the Mantra by exercising a unique effect on the person uttering the

same.

 

The sounds of Mantras constituted a secret initiatory language to be uttered

according to particular rules if this esoteric meaning and power were to be

assimilated and the initiate fully awakened. Particular attention is directed

to the dictum that the mantra imparted by his GURU to his SISHYA must never be

divulged "even if SIVA himself should demand it"

 

Mantra is a Quasi morpheme or a series of Quasi morphemes or a series of mixed

genuine and Quasi morphemes arranged in conventional patterns, based on

codified esoteric traditions and passed on from one preceptor to one disciple

in the course of an initiation ritual.

 

AGNI PURANA points out that a mantra softly uttered is more efficacious than

if repeated loudly and that when its utterance can be discerned only by the

movement of the lips, it is hundred fold more potent and when mentally

repeated its power increases thousand fold.

 

MANTRA JAPA of 14 kinds have been identified in JAPAYOGA- a treatise on the

union through recitation of Mantras as follows:

1. Nitya-( Daily recitation)

2. Naimittika (Circumstantial recitation)

3. Kaamya (for desired results)

4. Nishiddha (forbidden)

5. Praayaschitta (repentant)

6. Achala (Immobile)

7. Chala (Mobile)

8.Vaachika (Articulate)

9. Upaamsu (Whispered)

10. Bramara (Humming)

11. Manasa (Meditative)

12. Akhanda (Unceasing)

13. Ajapa (Inarticulate)

14. Pradakshina (Circumambulatory)

(To continue)

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