CHANTING 'mantra' for Concentration/stable thinking

[Guest guest]

Dear friend,

 

This is in response to your question below.

 

I would say it is the "gAyatri" mantra that foremost promotes mental

concentration and equipoise. All the Vedantic "achAryA-s" attest to

this fact. That is why it is the very first 'mantra' (the mother of

all 'mantras') given through "upadEsa" to any brahmachAri, youth.

Before one can learn to utter any other Vedic "mantra", one has to

learn to chant the "gAyatri".

 

This is not to say that other 'mantra-s' are any less potent. It is

just that the "gAyatri" is particularly suited to the cultivation of

mental qualities such as concentration, steadiness, equipoise,

clarity, illumination... It is the reason why in the Vedic way of

life, we are all urged to chant the 'gAyatri' unfailingly thrice in a

day. It is paramount duty enjoined on us.

 

We may or may not be able to chant other sacred 'mantra-s'. But as

humans born into the Vedic life we have no choice in the matter

of 'gAyatri'. It is prescribed we have to chant it, regardless of

anything, thrice daily every living day.

 

The "gAyatri" mantra is tonic for the soul, protein for the mind and

vitamin for the "buddhi".

 

A few days ago some of us underwent the "upAkarma" ceremony ("AvaNI-

avittam") and then followed it up with the "gAyatri japa" (1008

times). Others will be performing the rite later this August. This

annual ceremony is also mandatory for all who profess to have faith

in the Vedic 'mArga'. This rite is like an annual "medical check-up".

If on this very sacred day, we are able to go through the rite and we

complete too the 1008 "mantra-japa" of "gAyatri" -- in a calm,

composed and devoted manner(with lot of "shraddhA") -- we can take it

then that we have obtained a clean bill of mental fitness i.e. we can

be sure our mental faculties are all working pretty normally.

Certainly they are at least not malfunctioning. They are 'stable'.

 

Hope these thoughts of mine help you to make up your mind as to

what 'mantra' you must embrace to achieve the mental "concentration

and stablity" you seek.

 

Thanks and regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

, tatachar@a... wrote:

> >>"processcontrolking"

> ><processcontrolking>

> >>

> >> CHNATING

> >>Fri, 30 Jul 2004 04:38:16 -0000

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>    DEAR FRIENDS,

> >>                   WHAT MANTRAM IS BEST FOR CONCENTRATION AND

> >>

> >>      TO HAVE A STABLE THINKING?

> >>

> >>                                      CHANDRU

[Guest guest]

Dear Prapannas:

 

The question of best suitable Mantra has been discussed in this group. I think

the answer is given by Lord Ranganatha himself when he instructed our Swami

Ramanujar to continuously Chant "Dvayam" (Ref: Saranagati Gadyam).

 

Our learned elders have proclaimed that Dvaya is like Namasankirtana & there is

no binding (of time/place) in internal recitation as in case of other powerful

mantras thus making it suitable for any initiated Sri Vaishnava.

 

Dasan

 

Lakshmi Narasimhan

 

Sudarshan K Madabushi <mksudarshan2002 wrote:

[Guest guest]

Sriman Sudarshn has beautifully elaborated the importance and potency of SavitA

gAyatri mantra. We hear an episode about Sage Bharadwaja in the Yajur BrAhmaNa.

The sage was asking for another 100 yeras, after having lived 300 years already.

Indra asks him what he would do with another 100 years? Bharadwaja answers that

he wants to acquire more knowledge (Vedas). Indra creates three vast mounds,

each standing for a Veda and asks the sage to behold them. Then he picks a fist

full of mud from each mound and says that is the amount of knowledge which the

sage has acuired in 300 years. This is not to put down the ability of the Sage,

but simply to state the immensity of knowledge (anantA vai vEdAh). Indra directs

him to turn to the savitA gAyatri mantra.

 

Only thing that is glorified even more than the savitA gAyatrI mantra

is a portion of the gAyatrI, which is simply AUM or OM.

I would add, OM is the simplest and the greatest mantra for one and all.

In fact Joseph Campbell in his Power of Myth with Bill moyers (Vol. 6) brings

out a demonstration of chanting OM by the Tibetian monks and explains OM most

beautifully, and advices Bill Moyer to just say OM.

 

dasan,

 

K. Sreekrishna Tatachar

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

I agree with SrI KrishNan .

 

There is nothing more exalted than Dhvaya Manthram

for all times and places including the last moments.

 

Once initiated in to Dhvaya Manthram by a SdaAchAryan ,

there is nothing to excell it as life support .

 

V. Sadagopan

-

"Narendiran Krishnan" <knaren73

<>

Tuesday, August 03, 2004 6:51 AM

Re: Re: CHANTING 'mantra' for Concentration/stable

thinking

 

 

> Dear Prapannas:

>

> The question of best suitable Mantra has been discussed in this group. I

think the answer is given by Lord Ranganatha himself when he instructed our

Swami Ramanujar to continuously Chant "Dvayam" (Ref: Saranagati Gadyam).

>

> Our learned elders have proclaimed that Dvaya is like Namasankirtana &

there is no binding (of time/place) in internal recitation as in case of

other powerful mantras thus making it suitable for any initiated Sri

Vaishnava.

>

> Dasan

>

> Lakshmi Narasimhan

[Guest guest]

Respected Sirs,

 

To me all Vedic 'mantra-s' are exalted. Adiyane does not wish to be

drawn into a discussion on the relative degrees of exaltation. I was

only making a suggestion to the member who raised the question first

viz.: which 'mantra' is generally prescribed for mental fitness and

health. My impression was he had a very specific need: he was seeking

mental "concentration and stablity" ("life support" to me is a much

wider and more general term; and I don't recall him mentioning he had

a 'sadAchAryan' already...).

 

After reading all our views/suggestions, the member would do well to

make more inquiries (with his own 'guru' and mentors) before finally

making up his mind. "MantrOpadEsam" is a very serious, solemn matter.

 

Thanks & rgds,

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

, Sadagopan <sgopan@c...> wrote:

> SrI:

>

> I agree with SrI KrishNan .

>

> There is nothing more exalted than Dhvaya Manthram

> for all times and places including the last moments.

>

> Once initiated in to Dhvaya Manthram by a SdaAchAryan ,

> there is nothing to excell it as life support .

>

> V. Sadagopan

[Guest guest]

Revered Sir

 

Namaskarams

 

What is DHVAYA MANTRAM?

Pl clarify. Is initiation is a must?

 

Adiyen , Ramunaja dasan , P.N.Kannan

 

Dear Sri Kannan:

 

Dhvayam is one of the three esoteric manthrams

for Sri VaishNavAs , which MUST be recieved as upadEsam

from an AchAryan , who initates one into Vaishanava fold

( assembly) . Just reading about this manthram and its

meaning is not enough to have the Phalan of this

Manthram .

 

This manthram was revealed by the Lord to Sri Devi in

Sri Vaikuntam ( PaancharAthra Saasthram)

and has come to us thru AchArya Paramparai

starting from the Lord as PrathamAchAryan .

 

The name Dhvayam arises from the fact that two topics -- the means (UpAyam)

and Phalan-- are covered by this Manthram . One who is qualified to

recite this manthram is that person , who has no attachment to any other

UpAyam and Phalan ( Moksham thru the practise of SaraNAgathy).

Here Performance of SaraNAgathy is the UpAyam and MOksham

is the phalan of that SaraNAgathy.

 

AshtAksharam deals succinctly with the UpAyam and Phalan .

Dhvaya mantram elaborates on that succinct message of AshtAkshara

Manthram . Our Lord created from the Sruthi , Katavalli by uniting two parts of

that Vedic Text and inserting additional words to realize the Dhvaya

Mantram in the form in whcih we recieve it from our AchAryaas

for Moksha phalan . The main point to remember by any one seeking

Moksham is that there is no Moksha Saadhanam ( way to gain Moksham)

than the recitation of the Dhvaya Manthram recieved from one's

AchAryan.

 

Please seek a SadaachAryan of your choice and recieve upadEsam

from him thru the sacred rites of SamAsrayaNam .

 

V.Sadagopan