Mantras can invoke celestials' presence

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Mantras can invoke celestials' presence (An Article from the Religious

Section of The Hindu taken with permission: "Copyrights 2000 The Hindu &

Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.")

 

To focus the attention of people on the transitory nature of their lives,

sacred texts contain several comparisons which can warn them not to chase

vanishing pleasures but instead take to religious pursuits and obtain divine

grace and guidance. One is the example of a plantain leaf. Care is taken to

raise the plantain and preserve the leaves. But once they are used (to serve

meals), they are thrown away. Likewise, the moment their activities gradually

ebb, men may be found to be of no use and they will have to quit the world.

Another example is that of the sugarcane crop which is raised after lot of

agricultural operations and its canes are crushed to obtain the juice. The

waste is thrown away. So long as men are alive they should continue spiritual

exercises.

 

The Mahabharata refers to the advice tendered by sages to two queens when

their husband died in a forest following a curse. They comforted the queens

not to grieve as death was a certainty and that they should fulfil their

obligations expected of them. One among the two, who survived, took the five

children to the city where their uncle was ruling over the country. This king,

who was deeply upset at his brother's demise, treated them with affection for

a time but later turned jealous and abetted his own son's schemes to wipe them

out.

 

The epic throws light on the efficacy of the Mantras, uttering which men of

faith can derive any benefit. They should be taught by saints who had mastered

them. Each one of these Mantras can invoke the presence of celestials when one

can seek their blessings to obtain what one needs. A princess, who as a child

attended to the religious needs of a sage, was taught a powerful Mantra and

when she got married, she used it requesting celestials to get children, as

her husband was barred from having physical contact with both his wives. Only

at his suggestion, she chanted the powerful incantation when the demi-Gods,

with powers at their command, caused the appearance of five children who later

grew-up as the Pandavas.

 

Sri K. P. Arivanandam, in a lecture, said apart from the potency of the

Mantras recited with faith and only under exceptional cases, the presentation

of children to Kunti and Madri, the queens, revealed the perfection of the

science of astrology even in days of yore. The eldest was the manifestation of

the God of Justice and the planetary position at the time of his arrival

showed that he would shine as an outstanding emperor wedded to Truth. He was

Yudhistira and similarly the four others who appeared at intervals,

represented valour, wisdom, honesty and diligence.