nature of mantra-s - From the parAkhya tantra

[Guest guest]

I dont have much time to type original sanskrit text. So I just type Dominic's

translation of portions of this text.

 

parAkhya tantra is very old shaiva siddhAnta text

-------

6 th paTala.

 

In response to pratoda's doubt about the efficacy of mantra-s in the text:

 

prakAsha uvAcha:

In pulling out splinters, in possession by fevers, in subduing nAga-s, spirits,

fevers in destroying poisons and enemies etc etc..,....and so we see its fruit

in visible cases and therefore we can infer..(their power). --shloka 54

 

**If it is sometimes true and sometimes false i.e. if mantras produce results

sometimes and do not produce results then it(mantra's capability) is

disproved.** -- shloka 55

 

But it(mantra prayoga's capability) is not observed to be random as a result of

insufficiency as in the case of the appease ment of a spirit that possesses

someone. --shloka 56

-----

Dominic's notes on the last sentence: prakAsha means **that no randomness is

perceived** in appeasing spirits(they are appeased if the right procedure is

correctly followed, but not if there is any deficiency), but it is conceivable

that he means that randomness is indeed perceived when such appeasement is

attempted.

 

So it is meant that if there is a randomness(i.e failure of a mantra prayoga at

times)then the fault is due to incorrect performance.

 

The sanskrit is a bit confusing on this last statement.

 

tathyaM sthitamathayaM yadvaikalyAnnahi tatphalaM.

kadAchitkaM tu no dR^iShTaM vaikalyAdgrahashAntivat.h..56..

 

**Notice that this works says that if mantra-s work sometimes and do not work

sometimes then they are questionable. Which means that the work intends to tell

us that there will not be any discrepancy in the way they work.

 

The rest of the chapter involves a highly technical discussion on the nature of

rituals and mantras.

 

On a related note, the shiva purAna mentions mantra-s as the bells of

shiva's(tripurAri) chariot. It recognised worship of devata-s without mantra-s

but is very clear about insisting that all worship be done only with mantra-s.