Guest guest Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 You don't recite a personal mantra in your daily life? Personal mantras are usually short and easy to remember. They are chanted with care and faith, whenever possible during a day's routine. Free moments we have when commuting to work, browsing TV channels idly, getting up from bed, going to bed, and so on, can be utilized to recite a personal mantra. Does the incessant chanting of a personal mantra hinder thoughts? Functional thinking is typically in words and phrases. For example, if our thoughts are centered on a write-up, a speech to deliver, etc., we think up predominantly in words and phrases. Recognitive thinking, on the other hand, is largely picturesque. If I bring back to mind a speech I delivered, for example, the occasion, the people and the other circumstances dominate my mind, mainly in pictures. Even if I remember a phrase or sentence in my speech that captivated the audience, I am reminded of the expressions and looks of the people in front of me, more than of my words. Purposeful thinking is generally functional. Idle thinking is generally recognitive. A primary requirement of spiritual advancement is that we regulate and reduce our thoughts, at least avoid idle thinking. But this is not easy. The stream of consciousness flows on, and our mind jumps and wanders like a monkey, from thought to thought. One way of reducing thoughts is learning to think in phrases, and in words that conjure up the idea. The next step is learning to think in terms of word-parts and syllables. An advanced step in this direction is intuitive thinking. Personal mantras help reduce our thoughts. As we practice chanting, the mantra will get to the background and become ajapaa, (involuntary chanting), like our breathing, leaving us space for purposeful thinking. And this concurrent thinking will gradually tend to be intutive. Cultivating the habit of intuitive thinking helps focus our consciousness on the higher regions of the mental world, although we may not be readily aware of it. It takes us nearer to our higher Self. Presented below are some of the universal mantras of Sanatana Dharma, that can be chanted personally. Please note that I am not Sanskrit-literate. The transliterations and meanings I have given here are gathered from books and the Internet. Hindu religious literature is replete with invocation to personal gods. The mantras I have included here do not relate to any personal god. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as spoken of here, refer to the Three Aspects of the Universal God, rather than the Hindu Trinity. As Bishop Leadbeater says about Gayatri mantra, it is the intention and not the language that produces the effect. While it is true that the Sanskrit rhythms generate more powerful vibrations, the mantras may also be chanted in faith using recitable vernacular translations. Universal mantras of Sanatana Dharma for Everyone (Aural versions of mantras marked with an asterisk are available at: www.hindunet.org) 1. Lead, kindly, Light!* -------- Asato ma Sad gamaya Tamaso ma Jyotir gamaya Mrityor ma Amritam gamaya Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Meaning of the phrases asato-from unreal; ma-me; sad-to the real; gamaya-lead; tamaso-from darkness (of ignorance); ma-me; jyotir-to light; gamaya-lead; mrtyoh-from death; ma-me; amrtam-immortality; gamaya-lead; Overall meaning Lead me (by giving knowledge) from the unreal to the real; from darkness (of ignorance) to the light (of knowledge); from death (sense of limitation) to immortality (limitless liberation). 2. That is Perfect* -------- Aum Poorna madah Poorna midam Poornaat Poorna mudachyate Poornasya Poorna maadaya Poorna meva Vashishyate Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi That is perfect - this is perfect. What comes from such perfection truly is perfect. What remains after perfection from perfection is yet perfect. May there be peace, peace and perfect peace. 3. Oblation to Brahman -------- Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir Brahmagnau Braahmanaa Hutam Brahmaiva Tena Gantavyam Brahma Karma Samadhina Meaning of the phrases Brahma-Brahman; arpanam-the means of offering; havir-oblation; brahmagnau-unto the fire that is Brahman; brahmana-by brahman; hutam-is offered; eva-indeed; tena-by him; gantavyam-to be reached; brahma karma samadhina-who is abiding in Brahman Overall meaning Any means of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the fire in which the offering is made is Brahman, and the one who offers is Brahman. Such a person who abides in Brahman indeed gains Brahman. Brief Explanation This verse is from the Bhagavad Gita (chapter 4, verse 24), and is traditionally chanted before meals. Brahman is the name of the Lord, the cause of the whole creation. Looking at the whole creation as an effect, Brahman is seen as the cause of everything. The effect does not exist separate from its cause. This verse likens food that is eaten to an oblation poured into the fire during ritual. By chanting this prayer before meals, the food that is eaten is offered to Brahman, the Lord. 4. Oblation to Narayana (Vishnu) -------- Kaayena vaacha Manase ndriyerva Budhyad manava Prakrite Swabhavat Karomi Yadyat Sakalam Parasmai Narayanayeti Samarpayami Unto Lord Narayana, I dedicate all the acts that I perform with my body, speech, mind, senses and intellect that are born of deliberation and natural tendencies. 5. Universal Welfare - 1* -------- Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha Sarve Santu Niramayah Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu Mas Kaschid Dhuka Bhag Bhavet Meaning of the phrases Sarve-all; bhavantu-may be; sukhinah-happy; santu-happy; niramayah-free from disease; badrani-prosprity; pashyantu-may enjoy; ma-not; kaschit-anybody; dukkshbhag-one who suffers; bhavet-may be Overall meaning May all be happy. May all enjoy health and freedom from disease. May all enjoy prosperity. May none suffer. Brief explanation These are prayers for the prosperity and welfare of humanity. To achieve anything in life, one has to make an effort and await the results. In addition, many unknown factors and laws influence the outcome of that effort. By praying to the Lord, one acknowledges these laws as the natural order inseparable from the Lord, and one acknowledges the Lord as the giver of all results of actions. 6. Universal Welfare - 2* -------- AUM Sarve shaam Swastir Bhavatu Sarve shaam Shantir Bhavatu; Sarve shaam purnam Bhavatu; Sarve shaam Mangalam Bhavatu. AUM Shantih, Shantih, Shantih May all be auspecious; May all attain peace; Let there be fullness and contentment all over; May all be blessed. AUM peace, peace, peace. 7. Universal Peace -------- AUM. Dhyaoh Shaantih, Antariksha Shaantih, Prithavi Shaantih, Aapah Shaantih, Oshadhyah Shaantih, Vanaspatyah Shaantih, Vishvedevah Shaantih, Brahma Shaantih, Sarvam Shaantih, Shaantih Eva Shaantih, Saa Maa Shaantir-edhi AUM Shaantih, Shaantih, Shaantih AUM. May there be peace in the sky and in the space. May there be peace on land and in the waters. May herbs and food bring us peace. May God bring us peace. May there be peace throughout the world. May the peace be peaceful. May God give me such peace. AUM Peace, Peace, Peace 8. The Lord is my Everything -------- Tvameva Mata Cha Pita Tvameva Tvameva Bandhuscha Sakha Tvameva Tvameva Vidya Dravinam Tvameva Tvameva Sarvam mama Deva Deva O Supreme Lord (deva-dev, Master of all demigods), You are our mother, father, brother, and friend. You are the knowledge and You are the only wealth. You are our everything. 9. Brahman is Light (chanted when lighting a lamp) -------- Deepa jyothi Parabrahma Deepa jyothi Janardhana Deepo me hara tu paapam Deepaa Jyothir Namostute I salute the Lord, the sustainer of the creation, in the form of this light. I salute this light (the Lord), may He destroy afflictions resulting from my omissions and commissions. 10. Respects to Guru* -------- Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshvarah Guru Shakshat Param Brahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah Know The Guru To Be Brahma Himself. He Is Vishnu. He Is Also Shiva. Know Him To Be The Supreme Brahman, And Offer Thy Adoration Unto That Peerless Guru. 11. Guru and Chela* -------- Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu Saha veeryam Karava vahai Tejas Vinavati Tamastuma vidh wishavahai Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi Meaning of the phrases Saha-both; nau-us; avatu-may he protect; bhunaktu-may he nourish; viryam karavavahai-may we acquire the capacity; tejasvi-be brilliant; nau-for us; adhitam-what is studied; astu-let it be; ma vidvisavahai-may we not argue with each other. Overall meaning May He protect both of us. May He nourish both of us. May we both acquire the capacity (to study and understand the scriptures). May our study be brilliant. May we not argue with each other. Om peace, peace, peace. Brief explanation At the beginning of a class, the teacher and students generally recite this peace invocation together. Both seek the Lord's blessings for study that is free of obstacles, such as poor memory, or the inability to concentrate or poor health. They also seek blessings for a conducive relationship, without which communication of any subject matter is difficult. Therefore, this prayer is important for both the teacher and the student. Readers may please search the Internet Hindu Websites for aural renditions of other mantras, as they help with correct chanting of the mantra in Sanskrit. Recite a personal mantra with faith, when you commute to and from work, and at other times when you are mentally free. You will definitely find the difference. Regards, saidevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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