JAPA YOGA

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Japa Yoga

A Bija-Akshara is a seed-letter. It is a very powerful Mantra. Every

Devata has his or her own Bija-Akshara. The greatest of all Bija-

Aksharas is OM or Pranava, for it is the symbol of the Para-Brahman

or the Paramatman Himself. OM contains within itself all the other

Bija-Aksharas. OM is the general source or the common seed from which

all the particular sounds or secondary seeds proceed. The letters of

the alphabet are only emanations from OM which is the root of all

sounds and letters. There is no Mantra superior to or greater than

OM. OM, as it pronounced ordinarily, is an outward gross form of the

real subtle inaudible state of sound which is called the Amatra or

the immeasurable fourth transcendental state. As the various Devatas

are the aspects or forms of the One Supreme Being, so the various

Bija-Aksharas or Bija-Mantras are so many aspects or forms of the

Supreme Bija or Mantra, viz., OM. Even the letters 'A', 'U' and 'M'

do not really give the transcendental or original state of sound.

Even this triliteral sound is only an expression or manifestation of

the highest primal Dhvani or vibration. The transcendental sound of

OM is heard only by Yogins and not by the ordinary ear. In the

correct pronunciation of OM the sound proceeds from the navel, with a

deep and harmonious vibration, and gradually manifests itself by

stages at the upper part of the nostrils where the Anusvara or the

Chandrabindu is sounded.

 

Generally a Bija-Mantra consists of a single letter. Sometimes it

constitutes several syllables. For example, the Bija-Mantra 'Kam' has

a single letter with the Anusvara or the Chandrabindu which forms

termination of all Bija-Mantras. In the Chandrabindu, Nada and Bindu

are blended together. Some Bija-Mantras are made up of compound

letters, such as the Mantra 'Hreem'. The Bija-Mantras have a

significant inner meaning and often do not convey any meaning on

their face. Their meaning is subtle, mystic. The form of the Bija-

Mantra is the form of the Devata signified by it.

 

The Bijas of the five Mahabhutas or great elements, i.e., of the

Devatas or the presiding intelligences of the elements, viz., Ether,

Air, Fire, Water and Earth, are respectively Ham, Yam, Ram, Vam and

Lam. The meanings of a few Bija-Mantras are given here, to serve as

examples.

 

OM

 

OM consists of three letters: 'A', 'U' and 'M'. It signifies the

three periods of time, the three states of consciousness, the entire

existence. 'A' is the waking state or Virat and Visva. 'U' is the

dreaming state of Hiranyagarbha and Taijasa. 'M' is the sleeping

state or Isvara and Prajna. Study the Mandukyopanishad in detail in

order to understand the meaning of OM.

 

HAUM

 

In this Mantra, Ha is Siva. Au is Sadasiva. The Nada and Bindu mean

that which dispels sorrow. With this Mantra Lord Siva should be

worshipped.

 

DUM

 

Here Da means Durga. U means to protect. Nada means the mother of the

universe. Bindu signifies action (worship or prayer). This is the

Mantra of Durga.

 

KREEM

 

With this Mantra Kalika should be worshipped. Ka is Kali. Ra is

Brahman. Ee is Mahamaya. Nada is the mother of the universe. Bindu is

the dispeller of sorrow.

 

HREEM

 

This is the Mantra of Mahamaya or Bhuvanesvari. Ha means Siva. Ra is

Prakriti. Ee means Mahamaya. Nada is the mother of the universe.

Bindu means the dispeller of sorrow.

 

SHREEM

 

This is the Mantra of Mahalakshmi. Sa is Mahalakshmi. Ra means

wealth. Ee means satisfaction or contentment. Nada is Apara or the

manifested Brahman or Isvara. Bindu means the dispeller of sorrow.

 

AIM

 

This is the Bija-Mantra of Sarasvati. Ai means Sarasvati. Bindu means

the dispeller of sorrow.

 

KLEEM

 

This is the Kamabija. Ka means the Lord of desire (Kamadeva). Ka may

also mean Krishna. La means Indra. Ee means contentment or

satisfaction. Nada and Bindu mean that which brings happiness and

sorrow.

 

HOOM

 

In this Mantra, Ha is Siva. U is Bhairava. Nada is the Supreme. Bindu

means the dispeller of sorrow. This is the threefold Bija of Varma of

armour (coat of mail).

 

GAM

 

This is the Ganesha-Bija. Ga means Ganesha. Bindu means the dispeller

of sorrow.

 

GLAUM

 

This also is a Mantra of Ganesha. Ga means Ganesha. La means that

which pervades. Au means lustre or brilliance. Bindu means the

dispeller of sorrow.

 

KSHRAUM

 

This is the Bija of Narasimha. Ksha is Narasimha. Ra is Brahma. Au

means with teeth pointing upwards. Bindu means the dispeller of

sorrow.

 

There are, like these, many other Bija-Mantras which signify various

Devatas. 'Vyaam' is the Bija of Vyasa-Mantra, 'Brim' of Brihaspati-

Mantra and 'Raam' of Rama-Mantra.

 

SRI VIDYA

 

Sri-Vidya is the great Mantra of Tripurasundari or Bhuvanesvari or

Mahamaya. It is also called the Panchadasi or the Panchadasakshari,

for it is formed of fifteen letters. In its developed form it

consists of sixteen letters and is called Shodasi or the

Shodasakshari. The aspirant should directly get initiation of this

Mantra from a Guru, and should not start reading it for himself or

doing Japa of it, of his own accord. This is a very powerful Mantra

and, when it is not properly repeated, it may harm the Upasaka. So it

is imperative that it should be got directly from a Guru who has got

Siddhi of this Mantra.

 

The general rule is that this Mantra (Sri-Vidya) should be repeated

after one's passing through certain stages of self-purification

through other Mantras. In the beginning a Purascharana of Ganesa-

Mantra should be done. Then Purascharanas of Gayatri-Mantra, Maha-

Mrityunjaya-Mantra and Durga-Mantra (Vaidika or Tantrika) have to be

done. After this the Panchadasakshari and the Shodasakshari have to

be taken up for Japa.

 

The Bija-Mantras and the Sri-Vidya should not be repeated by those

who are not well acquainted with them. Only those who have a very

good knowledge of the Sanskrit language and who have been directly

initiated by a Guru (who has Mantra-Siddhi) can take up the Japa of

Bija-Mantras and the Sri-Vidya. Others should not approach these

Mantras and should do only their own Ishta-Mantras which are easy to

pronounce and remember.

 

Source: HH Sri Swami Sivananda, The Divine Life Society, India, 1992,

pp94-99.