To Bela & Aikya Questions about Mantras

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Bela wrote to Aikya:

 

>> Thank you for sharing this information. I had heard stories here and

there

>> about people receiving mantras from Amma, but then I would wonder how

would

>> you remember it, especially if you are not well-versed in Sanskrit or

>> familiar with many of the common mantras.

 

 

Aikya had previously written:

 

>> Based on the form of God/dess that you mention (could be Amma), you

>> are given a fairly standard mantra...Added to the very well-known mantra

there

>> is one extra syllable, a bija mantra (seed mantra) of the goddess...

 

>> When Amma tells you your mantra--beforehand in my case, you are given

>> it in writing by one of the swamis. After Amma tells you your mantra,

>> you go to another class where they make sure that you can pronounce

>> your mantra, that you know the meaning of it, that you know how to use

>> a mala and understand that you are supposed to say your mantra 108

>> times every day.

 

 

 

 

Dear Bela & Aikya ~ I have a postscript to add to this, but first let me

tell you of my experience. When Amma gave me my mantra (which was an Amma

mantra), I couldn't understand what She said when She whispered it into my ear.

I

felt a bit frantic ~ oh no! What am I going to to ~ and I didn't want to ask

Her to repeat it. Fortunately, as Aikya mentions above, there is a swami

standing nearby who writes it down for you, both in sanskrit and the. English

translation. Whew .

 

In the process of moving numerous times, I lost track of that precious piece

of paper. Then last year, when I started to more actively use my mantra

again, I realized that I wasn't sure

I was remembering the mantra correctly, and I didn't know what to do. I

think I called and spoke with someone in the Santa Fe ashram. They arranged a

time for Swami Dayamrita to call, which he did, and went over the mantra and the

meaning with me. Whew.

 

The "class" you mention has been added since I last saw Amma, and what a

great idea. For people who are not used to chanting mantra, or don't know how to

use a mala, this is a great gift. Jai Ma ~ Linda