HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - Part 70

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HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - WHY DO WE FOLLOW THOSE? Mantra "Sound is more than simply a medium of artistic expression.Sound has practical and powerful applications in the real world." In the Indian religions, a mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of "creating transformation" (cf. spiritual transformation). Their use and type varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra. Other purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. Mantras originated in the Vedic

tradition of India, later becoming an essential part of the Hindu tradition and a customary practice within Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. The use of mantras is now widespread throughout

various spiritual movements which are based on, or off-shoots of, the practices in the earlier Eastern traditions and religions. Mantras can be interpreted to be effective as vibration, or more simply as sound, which may include verbal repetition, in the form of chanting, or internal mental repetition. For this reason great emphasis is put on correct pronunciation (resulting in an early development of a science of phonetics in India ). Mantras can be used in Eastern spiritual traditions to divert the mind from basic instinctual desires or material inclinations, by focusing the mind on a spiritual idea, such as "I am a manifestation of divine consciousness". What a Mantra is

The word mantra is a Sanskrit word consisting of the root man- "manas or mind" and the suffix -tra meaning, tool, hence a literal translation would be "mind tool". Mantras are interpreted to be effective as sound (vibration), to the effect that great emphasis is put on correct pronunciation (resulting in an early development of a science of phonetics in India ). They are intended to deliver the mind from illusion and material inclinations. Chanting is the process of repeating a mantra.. Mantra in Hinduism Mantras were originally conceived in the Vedas. Most mantras follow the written pattern of two line "shlokas" although they are often found in single line or even single word form. The most basic mantra is Aum, which in Hinduism is known as the "pranava mantra," the source of all mantras. The Hindu philosophy behind this is the idea of nama-rupa (name-form), which supposes that all things, ideas or entities in existence, within the phenomenological cosmos, have name and form of some sort. The most basic name and form is the primordial vibration of Aum,

as it is the first manifested nama-rupa of Brahman, the unmanifest reality/unreality. Essentially, before existence and beyond existence is only One reality, Brahman, and the first manifestation of Brahman in existence is Aum. For this reason, Aum is considered to be the most fundamental and powerful mantra, and thus is prefixed and suffixed to all Hindu prayers. While some mantras may invoke individual Gods or principles, the most fundamental mantras, like 'Aum,' the 'Shanti Mantra,' the 'Gayatri Mantra' and others all ultimately focus on the One reality. In the Hindu tantra the universe is sound. The supreme (para) brings forth existence through the Word (Shabda). Creation consists of vibrations at various frequencies and amplitudes giving rise to the phenomena of the world. The purest vibrations are the var.na, the imperishable letters which are revealed to us, imperfectly as the audible sounds and visible forms. Var.nas are the atoms of sound. A complex symbolic association was built up between letters and the elements, gods, signs of the zodiac, parts of the body -- letters became rich in these associations.. For example in the Aitrareya-aranya-Upanishad we find: "The mute consonants represent the earth, the sibilants the sky, the vowels heaven. The mute consonants represent fire, the sibilants air, the vowels the sun? The mute consonants represent the eye, the sibilants the ear, the vowels the mind"

In effect each letter became a mantra and the language of the Vedas, Sanskrit, corresponds profoundly to the nature of things. Thus the Vedas come to represent reality itself. The seed syllable Aum represents the underlying unity of reality, which is Brahman. All elements and energies in the Cosmos can be influenced and guided by Mantras. There are three types of Mantras

Prayer. Prayer is a way of communing with God.

Guru mantra. The Guru Mantra represents the essence of prayer, and anchors us in God, the Atma and the Supreme Self. It is the first initiation given by the Master to the disciple on the spiritual path.

Bija Mantra. Bija mantra represents the essence of the Guru Mantra. It is the vibration and the "call" of the soul. Its effects develop more readily in deep meditation. As it works at the astral level it guides and influences the course of our destiny.

Continuous practice of mantra purifies the Consciousness and the mind, and removes the Karmas in much the same way as constantly walking over weeds crushes them. A spiritual Mantra always contains the word OM and the name of the divine incarnation. A Master only ever passes on a Guru Mantra (Siddha Mantra) to another according to the ancient Master-Disciple tradition. Siddha Mantra works in such a way that the spiritual power contained within the vibration of the word(s) is realized within us. Spiritual mantras are generally written in Sanskrit and play an important role in awakening of the Chakras. Lord Shiva transmitted the Sanskrit language to humans and its sounds are known as Deva's. The word "Deva" has three meanings: God, protector (guardian angel) and cosmic vibration. Lord Shiva brought the Deva's down to earth in the form of Letters and this is why the Sanskrit letters are known as Devanagari (citizens of God).. Vibrations can be audible or inaudible. Thoughts and feelings are counted as soundless vibrations. These are no less effective then the spoken word. The mantra is internalized in five stages:

Likhita - through writing

Vaikhari - through speaking

Upamshu - through whispering

Manasa - through thinking

Ajapa - through uninterrupted inner repetition

Writing a mantra impresses the vibratory quality of the mantra on the Subconscious mind. It can act like an affirmation, processing the content of the subconscious and replacing it with a new impression, or samskara.

Chanting means to repeat a mantra aloud, to speak it or to sing it. Singing the mantra is called bhajan, puja or sankirtan. Its effect is to awaken awareness into the inner vehicles; sometimes it absorbs the attention in these altered states of awareness. Whispering a mantra heightens the effect on awareness, allowing you to recognize more subtle changes in your awareness. Breathing a mantra associates the mantra with the currents of life force, and the deep pranic vibrations of the inner vehicles. Breathing a mantra is used to awaken the Kundalini Shakti and in Kriya Yoga practices. Thinking a mantra moves the attention inward and absorbs it in the resonant vibrations of the mantra on each Plane. If the attention becomes fixed at an inner gate, the awareness continues to awaken. In this form, this practice is called remembrance, zhikir, or simran. When the attention is carried along with the mantra, and becomes deeply absorbed on the inner Planes, it is called laya or samadhi. Mantra Japa

Mantra Japa was a concept of the Vedic sages that incorporates mantras as one of the main forms of puja, or worship, whose ultimate end is seen as moksha/liberation. Essentially, Mantra Japa means repetition of mantra, and has become an established practice of all Hindu streams, from the various Yoga to Tantra. It involves repetition of a mantra over and over again, usually in cycles of auspicious numbers (in multiples of three), the most popular being 108. For this reason, Hindu malas (bead necklaces) developed, containing 108 beads and a head "meru" bead. The devotee performing japa using his/her fingers counts each bead as he/she repeats the chosen mantra. Having reached 108 repetitions, if he/she wishes to continue another cycle of mantras, the devotee must turn the mala around without crossing the "meru" bead and

repeat. It is said that through japa the devotee attains one-pointedness, or extreme focus, on the chosen deity or principle idea of the mantra. The vibrations and sounds of the mantra are considered extremely important, and thus reverberations of the sound are supposed to awaken the prana or spiritual life force and even stimulate chakras according to many Hindu schools of thought. Any shloka from holy Hindu texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra, even the Mahabharata , Ramayana, Durga saptashati or Chandi are considered powerful enough to be repeated to great effect, and have therefore the status of a mantra. A very common mantra is formed by taking a deity's name. Called Nama japa and saluting it in such a manner: "Aum namah ------" or "Aum Jai (Hail!) ------" or several such permutations. Common examples are "Aum namah Shivaya" (Aum I bow to Lord Shiva), "Aum Namo Narayanaya"; or "Aum Namo Bhagavate Vasudevãya," (Salutations to the Universal God Vishnu), "Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah" (Aum to Shri Ganesha) and "Aum Kalikayai Namah" and "Aum Hrim Chandikãyai Namah." (i.e., mantras to Devi.) The Hindu Bija Mantra

Bija means a seed. Hence Bija Mantra means a mantra which is usually of one syllable. The table below is not complete, but gives the most common bija mantras.

The Bijas of the five elements, namely Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth, are Ham, Yam, Ram, Vam and Lam respectively.The five Main "Bija" (Seed) Mantras OM OM is the most important of all mantras. All mantras generally begin and often also end with OM. However, there is much confusion about OM. OM is the mantra of assent. It means yes and affirms and energizes whatever we say after it. That is why all mantras begin with OM. OM is also the mantra of ascent and causes our energy to rise upward into the infinite. OM is expansive and increases the fire, air and ether elements, particularly ether. It also gives strength, protection and grace. It connects us with the guidance power of the inner Guru. The Four Great Goddess Mantras There are four great Goddess mantras that govern the prime forms of energy as magnetic force, electrical force, heat, and delight. This is a Tantric teaching that reflects the Vedic Word and the four main Vedic deities. HRIM HRIM (pronounced Hreem) is the prime mantra of the Great Goddess and ruler of the worlds and holds all her creative and healing powers. HRIM governs over the cosmic magnetic energy and the power of the soul and causal body. It awakens us at a soul or heart level, connecting us to Divine forces of love and attraction. HRIM is the mantra of the Divine Maya that destroys the worldly maya. It has a solar quality to it but more of a dawn-like effect. It is charming and alluring, yet purifying . Through it we can control the illusion power of our own minds. In Vedic terms HRIM is a mantra of the Sun, particularly in terms of illumination. It increases our aspiration and receptivity to Divine light, wisdom and truth. It opens the lotus of the heart to the inner Sun of consciousness. It is a mantra of the region of heaven or the consciousness space in which all the worlds exist. KRIM KRIM (pronounced Kreem) is the great mantra of Kali, the Goddess of energy and transformation. It governs over prana as lightning or electrical energy. KRIM grants all spiritual faculties and powers — from the arousing of kundalini to opening the third eye. It has a special power relative to the lower chakras, which it can both stimulate and transform. It helps awaken and purify the subtle body. As a mantra of work and transformation KRIM is the mantra of Kriya Yoga, the Yoga of practice. It is the main mantra of the Yoga Shakti. As it is a strong mantra it should be used with care. KRIM is a mantra of Indra, the supreme deity of the Vedas, the Divine as the cosmic lord and enlightenment force. KRIM is the thunderbolt or vajra that destroys the serpent of the ignorance and releases the light of absolute truth. It represents the force of the atmosphere (Atmic sphere) and carries the supreme life force. HUM HUM (pronounced Hoom) is a mantra of the inner fire or thermogenic force. It both calls the divine down into us and offers our soul upward to the Divine for transformation in the sacred fire of awareness. It is a Shiva mantra but also a mantra of Chandi, the fierce form of Kali. It is used to destroy negativity and creates great passion and vitality. As a powerful mantra it should also be used carefully. Yet it can be used in a more gentle manner to invoke divine grace and protection. Through it we can offer ourselves or our afflictions into the Divine for purification and transformation. HUM is a Vedic mantra of Agni or fire. It is the mantra used to make offerings into the sacred fire. It also is used to call or invoke the fire and to make it flame up more brilliantly. It represents the soul hidden the body, the Divine immanent in the world. It governs the earth and the material sphere in general. SHRIM SHRIM (pronounced Shreem) is a mantra of love, devotion and beauty, relating to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Beauty and divine grace. Yet SHRIM works at a deeper level than merely to give us the good things of life, including health. It takes us to the heart and gives faith and steadiness to our emotional nature. SHRIM allows us to surrender to, take refuge in, or be immersed in whatever we offer the mantra to. It is the mantra of beauty and delight and has a pleasing lunar quality. It also relates to the head and can be used to flood the senses with divine beauty and delight. It promotes health and aids in fertility and rejuvenation. In Vedic terms SHRIM is a Soma mantra. It gives love, joy, bliss, beauty and delight.. It has the light of the Moon and governs the mind and the realm between the atmosphere and heaven. It purifies and integrates the various aspects of our nature and renders them into ambrosia. These four mantras can be used together with OM : OM HRIM KRIM HUM SHRIM! This brings about an integral development of body, mind and soul in harmony with the Divine or inner Self. Division Of Mantra And Their Use The uses of mantra is divided into six categories1. SHANTIKARAN : These mantras deal with the cure of diseases and warding off the malefic effects of the planets.One example will be of no use as there is different mantra for different disease. 2.VASHI KARAN : Through these mantras one can put under one's control any woman, man, officer, minister, devta, soul, animal, etc. and can fulfill your wishes." Om namo sarvlok vashikaraye kuru kuru swaha".3. STAMBHAN : These mantras are used to stop all the persons, souls, devtas, etc. from doing any harm to you." Om namah bhagvate shatrunam budhi stambam kuru kuru swaha".4. VIDESHAN : these mantras are used for creating differences between two or many individuals." Om namo

nardaya amukasya amuken seh vidheshna kuru kuru swaha".5. UCHCHATTAN : These mantras deal with distraction of the mind of the enemy so that they may remain away from their country, birthplace, residence, work and family members. It is also used if the sadhak wants aperson to remain at war with others." Om shareem shareem shareem swaha".6. MARAN : These are death inflicting mantras through which you can kill anybody at any distance without disclosing your identity.{To avoid it's harmful use it is not been given.} Besides one mantra given in each category, there are many mantras with different number of times they are to be recited under each category. Also specific time, day and the articles used for different mantras vary from category to category. The basic mantras for every day recitation and early siddhi attainment of one's mantras are - "Om Namo Shivaye"." Om Namo Narayane Aye Namaha"." Om Namo Bhagwate Vasdev Aye Namaha". Mantra for Improving Life This Mantra is from Ch IX of the Bhagvad Geeta. It is the Verse 22: Ananyaa shchinta yanto maamYe janaah paryupaasateyTeshaam nityaa bhiyuktaa naamYogakshemam Vahaamyaham It means: To those men who worship Me alone,thinking of no other, of those ever-united,(To those men, ever-united in love, who surrender to Me, after having done their best)I secure what is not already possessed,and preserve what they already possess.

 

dil se,

Bharath.Krishna

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