The threemanthras

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The Three manthras

 

 

The purpose of the three manthras and their relation to each other

 

The three manthras important to the vaishnava tradition are:

1.OmNamo NaraayaNaaya

 

salutations to Naryana preceded by the pranava.

 

2.SreemannaaraayaNa charaNou saraNam prapdhye : Sreemathe NaraayaNaaya namaH

 

I surrender to the feet of Narayana who is with Lakshmi and bow down to the Lord Narayana with Lakshmi.

 

3.SarvaDharnmaan parithyajya maam ekam SaraNam vraja ;

aham thvaam sarva paapebhyaH mokshayishyaami maa Suchah

 

Leave off all dharma and resort to Me only and I will absolve you from all sins; Do not grieve.

 

The last one is the charama sloka of Bhagavatgita.

 

The first one called Thirumanthra or ashataaksharamanthra, helps us to understand our real nature to be one that is subservient to the Lord, Seshathva, by which alone one gets real joy. It creates a longing for the attainment of salvation for which the first step would be the removal of all obstacles to the path.

 

The second manthra ,called the dhvaya manthra as it contains two parts, details the manner in which the means of salvation could be adopted. The means of salvation is through prapatthi or saranagathi.

 

The third enjoins the adoption of the means, namely prapatthi by a declaration of a promise .for protection.

 

Though all these could be found in all the three manthras, each has a different role to perform in prapatthimaraga.

 

The manthras together establish the truth that the Lord is the sole support of the individual soul and He pervades it. The jiva exists for Narayana and entirely dependent on Him for protection. The Lord is Himself the means as well as the end. The means or upaaya is indicated by the word `namaH,' `prapadhye' and `saranam vraja, which means that we should bow down to Him and surrender ourselves to Him. Which is the path of salvation. The goal to be attained is denoted by the word `naraayanaaya' in the first two meaning that we surrender to Him for attaining Him, and by the words `sarvapaapebhyaH mokshayishyaami, ` the fruit of surrender leading one to salvation.

 

(Detailed exposition of the mnathras will follow in the subsequent posts)