Fwd: Which "mantra" to chant for gaining mental "concentration/stability"?

[Guest guest]

tiruvenkatam, "Sudarshan K Madabushi"

<mksudarshan2002> wrote:

 

Dear members,

 

Here are some additional references to the subject. I came across it

in another good site on the Net ("Hindu way of life"). The matter has

also been dealt very well in Sri Anbil Ramaswamy's book "Hinduism Re-

discovered" (Publishers Tiruvenkatam Group, Kuwait).

 

dAsan, Sudarshan

**********

 

Significance of Mantrajapa

 

A mantra becomes effective only when its japa is done. That is, it

should be repeated a prescribed number of times as per the directions

of the guru.

 

Japa is of three types. It is 'vacika' or 'ucca' when done audibly.

It is 'upamsu' if done in whispering tones. If it is done mentally,

it is 'manasa'. The last is considered as the most efficacious.

 

During japa, the counting of the number can be done either by hand or

by a japamala (rosary). The number recomend can vary. for instance,

it can be 10 or 12, 28 or 32 or 108 the last number being the most

widely recognised.

 

A human being is supposed to breathe 21600 times in a day of 24

hours. Leaving aside time for sleep, looking after the needs of he

body and contingenies, the breathing during the waking and active

state is 10,800. Actually the number 108 symbolically represents this

10800. In other words, a votary is expected to utter the mantra with

every breath and the number 108 is a reminder of that ideal.

 

Japamala

 

A japamala - also known as aksamala - is a rosary used for counting

the mantra during japa. Though the ecounting can be done on the

fingers also, it is more convenient to use the japamala. The method

of using it must be learnt personally from an experienced person.

The beads of a japamala can be prepared out of then substances, ourt

of which rudraksa(Elaeocarpus seeds), dried tulasi(hloy basil) twigs,

seeds of the lotus plant, sandalwood and quartz are mmore common.

They are strung either on silk thread, or with wire of copper or

silver. Though the number of beads may vary from 32 to 108, last

number is the rule. There will be one bead extra, which may be bigger

than the others and fixed above them. This is called 'meru' and

should not be crossed over during counting.

 

Traditional Method of Japa

 

In the traditional method of the mantrajapa of any deity, the

following are the steps normally taught : rsyadinyasa, karanyasa,

anganyasa, reciting the dhyanasloka, japa of he mantra and

phalasamarpana.

 

Rsyadinyasa involves the chanting (with folded hands) the name of he

rsi or the sage to whom the mantra was originall revealed, the

chandas or the metre in which the mantra is composed, the name of the

devata or the deity to be meditated upon and the viniyoga or mode and

purpose of using it.

 

The various parts of he body have their presiding deities. The

purpose of karanyasa and anganyasa is to invoke the deities and

instal them in their appropriate places. By this, the whole body is

ceremonially purified making it fit for the practice of meditation.

 

The dhyanasloka dscribes the form of the deity to be meditated upon.

This facilitates the aspirant ot imagine the living presence of the

deity in his heart.

 

Japa is the repetition of the mantra, preferably keeping count of it

either on the fingers or by using the japmala.

 

Phalasamarpana is the total dedication of all the fruits and results

of the meditation and japa to the Istadevata.

 

Conclusion

Meditation and japa help the spiritual aspirant to gain greater

control over he mind, concentration and inner peace. Generally they

go together. Howeever, if meditation deepens, japa may automatically

stop.

--- End forwarded message ---